Xavier

ex-ZAY-vee-er or ZAY-vee-er

Basque or Arabic

"new house or bright"

Xavier Origin and Meaning

The name Xavier is a boy's name of Arabic, Basque origin meaning "new house or bright".

Xavier originated is use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. His birthplace was Javier, the name of which was derived from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning “castle” or “new house.” Many Americans pronounce the initial X, as in ex-ZAY-vee-er, but it's equally accepted to pronounce the name ZAY-vee-er, closer to the French pronunciation.

Today's parents are beginning to reassess Xavier, and it's as popular now as it's ever been. Xavier is one of the only X names most people know and use, often as a middle name following Francis, as in Saint Francis Xavier.

Xavier was chosen for their sons by Donnie Wahlberg and Tilda Swinton—as well as for the middle name of Larenz Tate's son Miles and Kim Fields' Quincy.

The Spanish classic Javier, pronounced HAH-vee-ay, has come into greater prominence via Oscar-winning Javier Bardem.

Trivia note: the X-men comics introduced the kreeatif spelling Xzavier.

• 91 US 2019
• 31 Nameberry 2021
• 223 England 2019
• 72 New Zealand 2020
• 32 Australia 2019
• 36 Portugal 2020
• 165 2028 2028