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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Basil - stroke of genius or simply silly?

34 replies

AisieSusie · 31/03/2010 00:05

what do you think to the name Basil?

looking for an arabic-brit hybrid which isnt one of the usual suspects (sam, joseph etc)... not sure if basil is a cute & little used name or if i just cannot get past basil fawlty associations...

so, what d you think? and how would you shorten it to nick names? bassy, baz (ugh)...

by no means sold on the name but baby is now 26 days old and we have no shortlist!

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StuffedFullOfNothing · 01/04/2010 16:23

for the love of all thats good and holy

please do not name a child Basil

Bonsoir · 01/04/2010 09:49

There are (French) brothers in my DD's school called Basile and Léonard. Why???

umf · 01/04/2010 09:42

Idris / Edris?

MrsCadwallader · 01/04/2010 07:06

My Grandad's name was Basil. However, my grandmother refused to marry him if she had to call him Basil for the rest of their lives.

He changed it to 'John'

Does that answer your question?!

John / Jonathan is a good name........

ChippingIn · 01/04/2010 07:01

Sorry, but another resounding NO.

Basiiiiillllll
Boom Boom
Herb

iskra · 31/03/2010 21:53

What about Ravi? I love that name. Although I think that might be sub continental rather than Arabic as well.

Imran.

LetThereBeRock · 31/03/2010 21:18

Terrible.

ozmetric · 31/03/2010 21:15

I like it.

umf · 31/03/2010 21:10

Basel
Bilal
Anwar

All great suggestions. I like Bilal especially.

What about Basitt? Or is that sub-continental rather than Arabic?

dizzydixies · 31/03/2010 16:58

no, please no

pointydog · 31/03/2010 16:56

turrible

AvengingGerbil · 31/03/2010 16:44

Bear in mind Americans will probably call him Bay-zl if they follow their pronunciation of the herb (or erb)...

destructogirl · 31/03/2010 16:42

I love it!
I'm thinking Basil if I have a boy.
Am imagining a toddler running off in ASDA and I'm shouting in Sybil Fawlty style - 'Basil! Basil!'

Innat · 31/03/2010 15:38

It will be associated with the famous Basils but so will any name. And any name you choose may end up the same name as some naff celebrity in the future so don't be too put off by it if you love the name.

I know a man called Baz - he is dutch and i think it's a nice name. although i could see it might depend what kind of accent it was shouted out with!

good luck with your decision, it's a really hard one to make. Your family and friends must be going mental, mine were after only 2 days!

whatever name you choose, he will become that name. i wasn't sure for another 6 mo after choosing my boy's but now i'm happy with it!

VermontMama · 31/03/2010 15:26

NO TO BASIL. And this is why. I love different names... especially those that remind me of nature, plants, etc. However, I met a Basil a couple of weeks ago... nothing wrong with him - except his name. Basil is NOT a good name in real life. I can't explain it other than saying it's really effeminate and unbecoming.

Unfortunately, the plant names belong to the girls. It's much more fitting. I love Sage for a boy... possibly spelled Saige, but I've heard the same complaint I've written above.

Lonnie · 31/03/2010 15:01

I just LOVE it I wanted it for all of my pregnancies for a boy but dh wouldnt hear of it just kept going BASIIIIILLLL ala Faulty Towers but OMG I love that name

darcymum · 31/03/2010 14:29

I really liked Basil, DH would have none of it though.

MrsvWoolf · 31/03/2010 14:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tobermory · 31/03/2010 11:17

Basil Brush!

nonono!

tummytickler · 31/03/2010 11:15

I really really love Basil - it is really cute, and no name can be too old for a baby - he will be old one day!

AllieW · 31/03/2010 09:46

Basil does immediately make me think of Fawlty Towers but there are plenty of names being revived which could potentially remind people of unpleasant/irritating characters too, eg. George and Mildred.

Why not go for it? Admittedly if you're in a rough-ish area he might end up being Baz, but I think it could be quite distinguished really.

ericnorthmansmistress · 31/03/2010 08:01

I really really like zachariya but I think my SIL is going to call her bump that if it's a boy. Otherwise I'd use it for another one.

ericnorthmansmistress · 31/03/2010 07:59

zachariya
Noah
Ali
Haris

My own DS is called Anwar which is not british at all but works beautifully here - it's unusual enough not to be boring but very easy to spell and pronounce phonetically.

MrsGubbins · 31/03/2010 07:51

Ben - Reuben, Bejamin
Sam - Sami, Sameer, Bassam
Adam
David
Moses
Billy - Bilal

vess · 31/03/2010 06:56

I've seen the arabic version mostly spelt Basel.
Nice name.