What does Basile mean?
Basile is the French form of Basil, “royal” or “kingly.”
What does Maxime mean?
Maxime comes from the Latin maximus, “greatest.”
Basile vs Maxime
Which is more popular?
Maxime is more popular than Basile today: about 21 US babies were given the name Maxime in 2025, compared with 6 named Basile.
| Basile | Maxime | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Royal, kingly | Greatest |
| Origin | French | French |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | bah-ZEEL | mak-SEEM |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1916 | 1920 |
| Peak year | 2018 (7) | 2001 (40) |
| In 2025 | 6 | 21 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Basile
Maxime
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Basile | Maxime |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | 152 |
| 2010s | 18 | 331 |
| 2000s | 6 | 318 |
| 1990s | 5 | 185 |
| 1980s | 0 | 80 |
| 1970s | 0 | 22 |
| 1920s | 0 | 10 |
| 1910s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Basile or Maxime more popular?
Maxime is more popular than Basile today: about 21 US babies were given the name Maxime in 2025, compared with 6 named Basile.
What is the difference between Basile and Maxime?
Basile means Royal, kingly (French origin), while Maxime means Greatest (French origin).
Which name is older, Basile or Maxime?
In US records, Basile first appears in 1916 and Maxime in 1920, so Basile has the longer recorded history.