Vasilije as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Vasilije

What is the meaning of the name Vasilije ?

The baby name Vasilije is a Male name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced vah-SEE-lee-yeh (IPA: /ʋa.siˈli.jɛ/).

Vasilije is Serbian, Slavic in Origin.

Vasilije (Василије) is the South Slavic form of the Greek name Basileios, derived from basileus “king,” hence the meaning “royal” or “kingly.” Carried into the Balkans through Byzantine cultural and ecclesiastical influence, it became established among Orthodox Christian communities. In Serbian and Montenegrin usage it is standard, with the feminine Vasilija. The name aligns with a broad family of cognates across Europe: Greek Vasilis, Russian Vasiliy, Bulgarian/Macedonian Vasil, Romanian Vasile, Slovene/Croatian Vasilij, English Basil, French Basile, and Italian/Spanish Basilio.

Usage is anchored by revered saints, notably Basil the Great (4th century Cappadocian Father) and St. Basil of Ostrog (Vasilije Ostroški, 17th century), whose veneration sustained the name through medieval and modern periods. Diminutives include Vasa, Vaso, Vasko, and Vase. It remains familiar in Serbia and Montenegro, with name-day traditions commonly observed on 1 January (or 14 January in the Julian calendar).