UK boy's name
Vasilis
Greek masculine name derived from the word "basileus" meaning "king" or "ruler".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Vasilis is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Vasilis popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 9 births.
This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2002 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Vasilis. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Vasilis ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 9 boys were registered as Vasilis.
- • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vasilis as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2021
9 births
Estimated living
38
2026
Meaning
What does Vasilis mean?
The name Vasilis is derived from the Greek Βασίλειος (Basileios), which in turn comes from the Greek word βασιλεύς (basileus), meaning "king". It was a common name in ancient Greece and the Byzantine Empire, often given to children in the hope that they would grow up to be leaders or rulers.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Basil the Great, a 4th-century bishop and theologian who is revered as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, and the Anglican Communion. He was born around 330 AD in Caesarea, Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey) and is remembered for his influential writings on theology, monastic life, and moral philosophy.
Another notable figure was Basil I the Macedonian, a 9th-century Byzantine emperor who reigned from 867 to 886 AD. He was born in 811 AD in the theme of Macedonia, and his reign marked the beginning of the Macedonian Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual revival in the Byzantine Empire.
In the 12th century, Basil Kalkas was a prominent Byzantine scholar and theologian who served as the Archbishop of Thessaloniki from 1180 to 1186 AD. He played a significant role in the theological debates of his time and left behind several influential works on philosophy and theology.
In the 14th century, Basil the Blessed was a prominent Russian saint and miracle worker who lived from 1468 to 1552. He is revered in the Russian Orthodox Church for his ascetic life, spiritual guidance, and numerous miracles attributed to him.
During the Renaissance period, Basilio Bessarione (1403-1472) was a prominent Greek scholar, philosopher, and theologian who played a crucial role in the rediscovery and revival of classical Greek literature in Western Europe. He served as a cardinal in the Catholic Church and was a leading figure in the Council of Florence, which aimed to reunite the Eastern and Western Christian churches.
These are just a few examples of notable figures throughout history who bore the name Vasilis or its variants. The name has been popular across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its deep roots in Greek history and culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Vasilis over time
The chart below shows babies named Vasilis registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Vasilis, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vasilis by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vasilis was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3646 | 12 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4577 | 16 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3606 | 10 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Vasilis
- Vincent 7,753
- Vinnie 6,092
- Victor 4,279
- Vinny 1,401
- Veer 1,163
- Vihaan 948
- Valentino 883
- Viktor 706
- Vlad 677
- Vivaan 615
- Vincenzo 587
- Vladimir 541
FAQ
Vasilis: questions and answers
How popular is the name Vasilis in the UK right now?
In 2023, Vasilis was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Vasilis most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 9 babies registered as Vasilis in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Vasilis?
Greek masculine name derived from the word "basileus" meaning "king" or "ruler".
How many people are called Vasilis in the UK?
A total of 38 babies have been registered as Vasilis across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.