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Vasily

Q: What does the name Vasily mean?

It is the Russian form of Basil, from the Greek Basileios, 'royal' or 'kingly,' ultimately from basileus, 'king.'

Q: How do you pronounce Vasily?

It is said vuh-SEE-lee /vəˈsiːli/ - three syllables, stress on the middle.

Q: Is Vasily a boy or girl name?

Vasily is used as a boy's name.

Q: How popular is Vasily?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about fourteen boys a year at its peak in the late twenty-tens, mostly in Russian-speaking families.

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Vasily

Pronounced vuh-SEE-lee /vəˈsiːli/Medium

Meaning: Vasily is the Russian form of Basil, which comes from the Greek Basileios, 'royal' or 'kingly,' from basileus, 'king.' It is one of the classic Russian men's names, borne by tsars, saints and artists, and reached America chiefly with Russian and Eastern European families.Medium

In 30 seconds: Vasily is the Russian form of Basil, from Greek for 'royal' or 'kingly.' A classic Russian name, it stayed rare in America, mostly in immigrant families (said vuh-SEE-lee).

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Origin MediumRussian, Greek

MeaningVasily is the Russian form of Basil, which comes from the Greek Basileios, 'royal' or 'kingly,' from basileus, 'king.' It is one of the classic Russian men's names, borne by tsars, saints and artists, and reached America chiefly with Russian and Eastern European families.

U.S. rank (2023)#14036 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 113

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Vasily is the Russian form of Basil, tracing back through Greek Basileios to basileus, 'king,' for a meaning of 'royal' or 'kingly.' It has been one of Russia's staple men's names for centuries, worn by grand princes and by the painter Vasily Kandinsky, and it appears in America mainly among Russian and Eastern European families.

Vasily has always been rare in the United States, given to only about fourteen boys a year even at its recent peak in the late twenty-tens and just over a hundred boys in total, its use rising gently with newer Russian-speaking immigration. A boy named Vasily at that peak is still a young child.

Did you know? Vasily is the Russian twin of Basil, and both descend from the Greek word for king, so the name literally carries the sense 'royal.'

Overall data confidence 60%

References - Vasily — Russian form of Basil < Greek Basileios 'royal/kingly'; Kandinsky; peaked late 2010s.

Variations

VasiliyVasiliBasil

Nicknames

VasyaVas

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Vasily…

Basil— the English form of the very same name

Dmitri— a fellow classic Russian boys' name

Nikolai— a like Russian name of similar heritage

Vadim— another traditional Russian men's name

Explore names like Vasily

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Vasily mean?

It is the Russian form of Basil, from the Greek Basileios, 'royal' or 'kingly,' ultimately from basileus, 'king.'

How do you pronounce Vasily?

It is said vuh-SEE-lee /vəˈsiːli/ - three syllables, stress on the middle.

Is Vasily a boy or girl name?

Vasily is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Vasily?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about fourteen boys a year at its peak in the late twenty-tens, mostly in Russian-speaking families.