Convince me: Basil

Boy Names
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Hi all,

I’m sure we’re a bit sick of this topic by now - but myself and DH are still at loggerheads over boys names. As far as I can tell, literally the only name he likes is Basil. It’s probably 3rd on my list (behind Russell and Colin).

We’re British so Basil is pronounced Bah-zil.

I’m thinking Basil Colin or Basil Nye - DH probably isn’t so keen on those as middles but if I’m going to be sold on Basil it’s going to need a middle name I really like. I’d like to save Russell for a possible future child - first name or bust on that one!

My main issues are the cultural associations with the name Basil in the UK (an old comedy show and a children’s comedy show - the child will be fine but I’ll have to deal with it), and the fact I don’t love any possible nicknames (lack of nickname is something that appeals to DH).

I also think it’s quite a bold name to be our first child choice? Does that make sense?

Anyway, please, sell me on the name. I do like it, but I just don’t know if I love it but maybe I can.

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As a fellow [name_f]British[/name_f] berry it’s not a name I’d choose as the association with the TV show is a little too strong for me, in my head it would be the same as me calling a child Sooty :see_no_evil:. That said your child (or other kids) wouldn’t know about the show so you couldn’t have to worry about bullying over it & eventually you’d come to associate the name with your child & not the show.

[name_m]Basil[/name_m] does follow well with [name_m]Colin[/name_m] as a MN so it could be a good compromise. If you don’t love the name could you maybe comprise & use a variation/similar name such as [name_m]Bastian[/name_m] (Basil could be a NN), Bash, [name_m]Basile[/name_m], [name_m]Pazel[/name_m], [name_m]Pascal[/name_m]?

Good luck :blush:

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If [name_m]Russell[/name_m] is your all-time fave I’d be a bit concerned that [name_m]Basil[/name_m] and [name_m]Russell[/name_m] are quite similar-sounding for brothers.

The TV connections wouldn’t bother me, and I do like it with both of your middle name choices. [name_m]Basil[/name_m] [name_m]Nye[/name_m] is particularly great!

I do also quite like Colin… would you consider [name_m]Corin[/name_m]? [name_m]Just[/name_m] a bit fresher and more in-tune with [name_m]Basil[/name_m] in terms of era and feel, IMO.

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It’s very classic, distinguished, unique, bold, and charming. I’m 20 and I live in the UK, and I wouldn’t think of the comedy shows at all - I think of [name_m]Basil[/name_m] Rathbone, who played [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] [name_m]Holmes[/name_m], and [name_m]Basil[/name_m] Hallward from The Picture of [name_m]Dorian[/name_m] [name_m]Gray[/name_m]. [name_m]Basil[/name_m] [name_m]Colin[/name_m] is a nice combo. I do think it would lend itself to the nickname [name_m]Baz[/name_m], though, which is worth keeping in mind if your husband is opposed to nicknames.

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[name_m]Basil[/name_m] has a clunky, old-man charm, but still feels sleek and polished. It has a literary vibe (The Picture of [name_m]Dorian[/name_m] Gray) but also a slight nature-y/wordy feel?

While it is bold and unusual, it feels familiar enough and I don’t think it would sound out of place with the increased use of names like [name_m]Otis[/name_m], [name_m]Stanley[/name_m], [name_m]Alfred[/name_m], [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m], [name_m]Ralph[/name_m], [name_m]Rufus[/name_m], [name_m]Archibald[/name_m], [name_m]Reginald[/name_m], Herbie/Herbert etc.

In terms of the children’s comedy show, I wouldn’t assume you’d chosen it based on that, but I can imagine some people bringing it up - hopefully that will fade out though

In terms of nicknames - I guess one might come more naturally, not associated with his name or one that suits him which you hadn’t liked at first? or you could go a bit stretchy and do something like:
[name_m]Basil[/name_m] → [name_m]Basil[/name_m] Plant → [name_m]Herb[/name_m] → [name_m]Herbie[/name_m]
[name_m]Basil[/name_m] → meaning [name_m]King[/name_m] → [name_m]Rex[/name_m]

I hope you either feel more connected to [name_m]Basil[/name_m] soon or another name you both love is uncovered :heart:

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Dunno if I can help because I’m in the US but when I hear it, it is a distinctly [name_f]British[/name_f] name (I don’t know if that is a good thing or not…) obviously I wouldn’t have the same cultural associations but I do think of the Great [name_m]Mouse[/name_m] Detective!

Take that as you will but it’s a great movie!

What does DH want for a middle, then?

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I’m Australian, so obviously my take is going to be different from yours, but my main and overwhelming association with [name_m]Basil[/name_m] is Fawlty [name_m]Towers[/name_m] (as my parents are HUGE fans of it, so I grew up with it and my dad especially still quotes it all the time. So I wouldn’t have named my son [name_m]Basil[/name_m] for that reason, but it depends on whether you have anyone like that in your life and if it’s likely to be an issue.

I think you’re right that kids aren’t going to have those associations at all. I also think [name_m]Basil[/name_m] as a name fits in nicely with a lot of softer boys’ names and nature names that are becoming more common now. You may be ahead of the curve on using [name_m]Basil[/name_m] as I could see it rising in use more in the future (as those TV associations fade).

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In favour of [name_m]Basil[/name_m]: I love the wholesome nature association and the retro feel :herb: I also very much like the unusual sounds in the name - [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], [name_m]Bobby[/name_m], [name_m]Blake[/name_m] and [name_m]Brody[/name_m] are the only B initial names in the [name_f]England[/name_f] & [name_m]Wales[/name_m] top 100 at the moment; the Z makes him sparkly and the L ending only appears on 4 top 100 names. Yet everyone will immediately understand [name_m]Basil[/name_m] as a name and know how to spell it!

I have a B initial child myself, and it’s always a fun one to do calligraphy with on cards and presents. It’s also a fairly low-stress one for children to sound out and learn to write when they are learning to read and write their own name :heart:

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@PeachyMum maybe I should suggest Sooty for a sibling name :joy: DH really only likes [name_m]Basil[/name_m], I did suggest Bastian/Sebastian nn [name_m]Bastian[/name_m], but that was quickly shut down.

@katinka I’d never thought about [name_m]Russell[/name_m] and [name_m]Basil[/name_m] being too close, I think I’d probably still go for it. Our girl choice is [name_f]Alice[/name_f], so clearly we just like S and L sounds! [name_m]Basil[/name_m] [name_m]Nye[/name_m] is currently my favourite for a middle name, but [name_m]Colin[/name_m] is a family name which does sway me. I like [name_m]Corin[/name_m] but we have a friend with the name who is great but who we don’t necessarily want people to think we named after (we had to rule out [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] for the same reason)

@marysia my husband is opposed to nicknames, but I’m definitely not! I don’t love the nickname [name_m]Baz[/name_m] though, hopefully I’ll come up with something I prefer. (It’s fine if he becomes [name_m]Baz[/name_m], but it’s not my first choice).

@Greyblue DH loves it because of the link to nature - we grow the herb in out kitchen/my husband cultivates it as a gardening hobby, then he played a computer game with a character called [name_m]Basil[/name_m] and it sealed the deal for him. I really like [name_m]Otis[/name_m], [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] and [name_m]Ralph[/name_m], so thinking about [name_m]Basil[/name_m] in that sort of cohort does help!
I definitely might call him Herb/Herbie, I think that’s cute :joy:

@cms1512 I definitely don’t dislike the Great [name_m]Mouse[/name_m] Detective! :joy:
DH has yet to come back to me with his middle name suggestions, although I have sent him my list. He seemed to quite like [name_m]Basil[/name_m] [name_m]Nye[/name_m], which surprised me. I explained that I like [name_m]Basil[/name_m] but I’m not excited by it, so a middle name that I love might be what seals it for me - he seemed on board with that as a method.

@Chococat I am quite concerned about the Fawlty [name_m]Towers[/name_m] association, but I think most of my friends will go to [name_m]Basil[/name_m] Brush instead (I hope). I don’t particularly like Fawlty [name_m]Towers[/name_m] and I am sure some older relatives will make the joke, but I am hoping that the association will fade.

@EdgeOfTheMeadow very helpful thank you! I do like names where they’re unusual but have a clear spelling (my real name is similar in that it’s used quite rarely in the UK - or was when I was born - but everyone knows how to say and spell it). I also love the idea of it being fun to do calligraphy with!

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