Xavier

Updated: October 29, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

The baby name Xavier sounds trendy and modern, but it's actually been around for quite a while. The name is important to many Spanish and Portuguese Catholics because it represents one of the most celebrated missionaries in history: Saint Francis Alexander. Today, it's one of the top 100 baby boy names in the United States.

Meaning of the name Xavier:

Spanish: New house
French: Enlightened
Arabic: Bright

Origin of the name Xavier:

The name Xavier is one of the few modern widely-used names with Basque roots. It became wildly popular with Spanish and Portuguese Catholics during the 17th century when Francis Xavier, a Catholic missionary and founder of the Society of Jesus, was named the patron saint of missionaries.

Symbolism of the name Xavier:

Many devout Catholics, particularly those in Spanish-speaking countries, choose the name Xavier because it is a way to honor Saint Francis Xavier.

Style of the name Xavier:

Classic

Gender of the name Xavier:

Male

Pronunciation of the name Xavier:

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

Number of syllables in the name Xavier:

Three or four, depending on your pronunciation

Emotion evoked from the name Xavier:

While Xavier is a popular baby name, it evokes the image of someone who is cool, unique and stylish.

Alternative spellings for the name Xavier:

Xzavier
Xaviere

Nicknames for the name Xavier:

X
Zay
Xavi
Zavy
Zavier

Popularity of the name Xavier:

Xavier has been one of the top 1,000 baby names in the United States since 1948. However, it didn't break the top 100 until 2001. As of 2020, it remains on the list at number 92, according to the Social Security Administration.