Reply With QuoteI love the name Basil. I actually suggested it as the no1 name for our bub if its a boy as DH wants a family name and his Dad is Barry (Baz) for short so I though Basil was perfect however unfortunately for me DH does not feel the same way.
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I say go for it!! Baz is an awesome NN and once he's in school he would most likely jsut be called that all the time... and then Basil fits the current trends in names around too (retro, nouns, nature names etc).
Basil Fawlty is the only Basil I think of but I LOVE Fawlty Towers so that's a huge plus for me
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I love the name Basil. I actually suggested it as the no1 name for our bub if its a boy as DH wants a family name and his Dad is Barry (Baz) for short so I though Basil was perfect however unfortunately for me DH does not feel the same way.
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Y'know I don't think the Fawlty Towers link is going to be as strong, or even evident at all amongst this child's peers. They will "look" at the name with a relatively fresh viewpoint. John Cleese is a fairly well known celebrity for us but he wont be forever. My name was partly inspired by a "Big" movie of 1969 and partly my family heritage. I am finding that it's only generations of my age or older (I'm 41) who even remember the name in the movie. We all like to believe that our generations Pop Culture icons will be the enduring ones... but only a few of each generation remain... this I'm sure will work in this names favour. Afterall nobody let Aunty Jack (1970's TV comedian) put anyone off calling their child Jack!
ETA: oh and Baz is short for Barry too.
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Nah, it can’t be Barry because we already call DD Barry as her nickname, and Gary or Larry too! (She’s Harriet and gets Harri and then it all gets a bit silly, as you do).
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I love it. I think it's old-fashioned enough to be able to be used again.
But there again I wanted an Enid and got vetoed by DH.
BTW I didn't think of fawlty or brush, I though of Basil out of Brambly Hedge. Cute.
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OK - yes I think of Basil Fawlty. But I think that John Cleese is a freaking genius so that's a good association LOL.
Couple of positives - it goes fantastically with your surname, and sounds pretty cool and edgy in a retro way. It's also a name that has a definite personality - one that I imagine that any child of yours would fit into beautifully.
Have you thought about spelling it Bazil? That way it's got the nickname built in. Or do you prefer the traditional spelling?
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I thought of Basil Brush when I saw the thread title
But I agree with Bath in the sense that neither the Fawlty Towers reference or the Basil Brush cartoon reference will be big with his peers... so really its probably a non issue
I think it sounds fabulous with your surname... and agree with Suse - its definately a little retro & its also a name for someone with a definate personality
FWIW - I think its amazing if it has special meaning for you and its an older name.
We named our little man Carmelo as its tradition in DH's family to name the first born son after the paternal grandfather. If we had elected not to give him that name, we would have broken 76 generations of 'Carmelo's'... there was no way I was going to do it - but also, its lovely that he has DH's dads name - and it means a LOT to DH that we chose to give it to him.
And we both like it anyway... it was a decision we didn't even think about! (Probably wouldn't have been so easy if his name was Bruno or another Italian name similar)
If you & DH both like it, do it
He will get different things anyway (like Baz... or like you said with Harriet getting Harry, Barry, Larry etc :lol)
FIL gets Charles instead of Carmelo a lot... and a lot of my family refer to our Carmelo as Charlie...
I say if you both like it, go for it
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I also thought fawlty towers and basil brush, but as others have said they wont have same association between friends.
Its a nice name but not sure I could name a child that.
It has special meaning to you so if you love it go for it!
xoxo
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using your numbering
1. yes
2. totally - Basil Fawlty and Basil Brush
3. probably not, but we're pretty conservative with names, and so might not be the right person to go by !! depends on what names you love and will use for your other munchkins!!
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If you like it then go for it. I like the nickname. As they say when naming your kids. Say the name out loud a few times.. ie.. Basil/Baz pick up your toys.. Come here Basil/Baz.. Think of how it might be for him later.. If you still really like the name but aren't sure then maybe use it for a middle name
1) Did you even know that Basil was a man’s name, or do you just think of it as a garden herb that’s good with tomatoes. I would think of this
2) Do you go straight to thoughts of Basil Fawlty and hear Sybil calling Basil! and this
3) Could YOU name a child Basil? Really?
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"Come here Basil!"..."Shut up Basil"...."Oh, and Basil, one more thing: If you're going to grope a girl, have the gallantry to stay in the room with her while you're doing it.".... ah Sybil Fawlty, you are my hero.
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Love it.
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I think it's blooming fantastic.
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Basil is fine....if you dont mind your little boy have the crapola beaten out of him each and every lunchtime for his entire school career...
Sorry, from me, it's a no.
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Point 2. was exactly the first thing i thought!!
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I think of Basil Brush, which is far from a negative connotation imho. As the mother of a Monty, these sorts of old fashioned names are becoming much more common. DS2 has 2 boys called Darcy and one Jonty in his class, so I doubt anyone would blink as a Basil.
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I knew it was a male name.
I didnt immediately think of anything until i read other responses in the thread
I woudnt pick it but thats because its not my family name! If it was and it meant something and dh agreed i would use it.
My last ds was named Freddy after my precious grandfather who had a very importent role in my life, so i know exactly where you are coming from.
I have my last bub tomorrow and it looks like he will be given another centimental family name, as long as it suits when i see his face
I say do what you feel
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