Vasili

Vasili is a masculine given name used in Slavic and Hellenic-influenced regions. It derives from the Greek Basilios, meaning "kingly" or "royal." In Russian, the form Vasiliy (Vasili) is common, and the name has spread to other Slavic languages with variants such as Vasil (Bulgarian, Macedonian) and Vasile (Romanian). The Greek equivalent is Vasilis, while Basil, Basilio, and Basilio are used in English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese contexts. The name is often shortened by affectionate forms in various languages; for example, Vasya is a common Russian nickname.

Notable people named Vasili (in transliterations such as Vasili or Vasiliy) include Vasili Arkhipov (1926–1998), a Soviet Navy officer credited with preventing a nuclear incident during the Cuban Missile Crisis; Vasili Zaitsev (1915–1991), a Red Army sniper celebrated for his exploits in World War II; and Vasili Grossman (1905–1964), a Russian writer and journalist. The name has appeared across literature, military history, and public life in Eastern Europe and beyond.

The name Vasili reflects historical ties between Slavic linguistic regions and Greek-influenced nomenclature and remains in use in various forms today, alongside related names such as Basil, Basilio, Vasil, Vasile, and Vasilis.