Xabier

Spanish variation of Xavier, Basque

"new house"

Xabier Origin and Meaning

The name Xabier is a boy's name.

Xabier is a masculine Basque variant of the name Xavier, which originated from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning 'new house.' The name gained prominence through St. Francis Xavier, a 16th-century Spanish missionary and co-founder of the Jesuit order. The distinctive spelling with an 'X' reflects traditional Basque orthography, where the 'X' is pronounced similar to 'sh' or 'ch.' Xabier remains very popular in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southwestern France, where it celebrates Basque cultural heritage and language. Outside of Basque regions, this spelling is less common but offers an authentic alternative to the more widely used Xavier. The name combines cultural specificity with a rich historical background.

Famous People Named Xabier

• Xabier "Xabi" Alonso Spanish footballer
• Xabier Iriondo Italian guitarist
• Xabier Etxeita Spanish Basque footballer
• Xabier Arzalluz Spanish Basque politician
• Xabier Fernández Spanish Olympic sailor
• Xabier Zandio Spanish cyclist