Find out how popular the first name Vasilios has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Vasilios by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Vasilios is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 12 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Vasilios.

The history of the first name Vasilios

The name Vasilios is a Greek masculine given name derived from the Greek word "basileus," meaning "king" or "monarch." It has its origins in ancient Greece and has been in use for over two millennia.

Vasilios was a common name among the ruling classes in the Byzantine Empire, where it was associated with royalty and nobility. The name gained popularity during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Basil I, who ruled from 867 to 886 AD and founded the Macedonian dynasty.

In Greek mythology, Vasilios is associated with the legendary figure of Basilius, a warrior and hero who fought alongside the gods. This association with bravery and valor contributed to the name's significance and appeal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vasilios dates back to the 4th century AD, when Saint Basil the Great, a prominent theologian and Bishop of Caesarea, was born in 330 AD. His work had a profound influence on the development of Christian theology and monastic traditions.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Vasilios. One such figure was Vasilios Digenis Akritas, a legendary Byzantine hero and warrior who lived in the 10th century AD and was celebrated in epic poems for his bravery in defending the Byzantine Empire's eastern borders.

Another prominent figure was Vasilios Argyropoulos (c. 1457-1534), a Greek Renaissance scholar and humanist who played a significant role in the revival of Greek learning in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries.

In the 19th century, Vasilios Konstantinou (1835-1899) was a Greek military officer and revolutionary who fought for the liberation of Crete from Ottoman rule, becoming a national hero in Greece.

More recently, Vasilios Tsitsanis (1915-1984) was a renowned Greek composer and singer, widely considered one of the most influential figures in the development of the Greek rebetiko music genre.

The name Vasilios has also been associated with royalty and nobility in other cultures. For example, Vasili III (1479-1533) was a Grand Prince of Moscow and the first ruler of a unified Russia.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Vasilios was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Vasilios, please contact us.

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