Xavier
English
Etymology
Toponymic surname of a 16th-century saint born in the Kingdom of Navarre (now partially placed in Spain), Francis de Xavier, from a place name in the Kingdom of Navarre, originally from Basque Xabier. Doublet of Echeverría.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈzeɪ.vɪə/, /ˈzæv.ɪə/, /ɪɡˈzeɪ.vɪə/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈzeɪ.vjɚ/, /ˈzeɪ.vi.ɚ/, /ɪɡˈzeɪ.vjɚ/, /ɪɡˈzeɪ.vi.ɚ/[1][2]
- (approximating Spanish) IPA(key): /hɑˈvi.ɛɹ/[3]
- Rhymes: -eɪvjə(ɹ)
Proper noun
Xavier
- A male given name from Spanish.
- 1976, Don DeLillo, Ratner's Star, Knopf, →ISBN, page 337:
- "Full name please." "Maurice Xavier Wu." "Where did you get the Xavier?" "My father was a missionary," he said.
- 2007, Sharon Kendrick, The Sheikh's English Bride, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 60:
- 'I keep telling you to call me Xavier,' he interjected silkily, aware that her reluctance to do so intrigued him. 'Xavier,' Laura agreed, and then hesitated. How could his name be so...so...enticing? Because it was foreign to her lips―lingering there like the juice of a fruit she had never tasted before? Or because it was impossible to say without first softening your voice?
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- A surname, found chiefly among people of Spanish and Portuguese descent.
- 2020 October 7, “Network News: Plaque at Chatham honours colour bar pioneer”, in Rail, page 26:
- A plaque commemorating the memory of British Rail guard Asquith Xavier, who broke the colour bar at Euston station in 1966, was unveiled at Chatham station on September 24.
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Usage notes
- The given name was rare (among English speakers) until the 1980s, when it began to rise in popularity. The surname is still rare.
Derived terms
- Xavierian
- Xavierite
Translations
male given name
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References
- “Xavier”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
- “Xavier”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
- e.g. 1/21/21 US White House Press Briefing, naming Xavier Becerra 36:44, US President Biden naming Xavier Becerra 19:22
Catalan
Etymology
From the toponymic surname of a Spanish saint, from Basque Xabier. See Xavier for more.
Pronunciation
- (Balearic) IPA(key): /ʃə.viˈe/
- (Central) IPA(key): /ʃə.biˈe/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /t͡ʃa.viˈeɾ/
Proper noun
Xavier m
- a male given name, equivalent to English Xavier
Derived terms
- Xavi
Cebuano
Etymology
From Spanish Xavier, from Francis Xavier, from Basque Xabier.
Proper noun
Xavier
- a male given name from Basque
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡza.vje/, /ksa.vje/
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Xavier m
- a male given name, equivalent to English Xavier
Usage notes
- The compound given name François-Xavier also occurs, in honor of the saint.
Portuguese
Etymology
From the toponymic surname of a Spanish saint, from Basque Xabier. See Xavier for more.
Pronunciation
- (Brazil) IPA(key): /ʃa.viˈɛʁ/ [ʃa.vɪˈɛh], (faster pronunciation) /ʃaˈvjɛʁ/ [ʃaˈvjɛh]
- (São Paulo) IPA(key): /ʃa.viˈɛɾ/ [ʃa.vɪˈɛɾ], (faster pronunciation) /ʃaˈvjɛɾ/
- (Rio de Janeiro) IPA(key): /ʃa.viˈɛʁ/ [ʃa.vɪˈɛχ], (faster pronunciation) /ʃaˈvjɛʁ/ [ʃaˈvjɛχ]
- (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ʃa.viˈɛɻ/ [ʃa.vɪˈɛɻ], (faster pronunciation) /ʃaˈvjɛɻ/
- (Portugal) IPA(key): /ʃɐˈvjɛɾ/
- Hyphenation: Xa‧vi‧er
Proper noun
Xavier m
- a male given name from Basque
Spanish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /xaˈbjeɾ/ [xaˈβ̞jeɾ]
- Rhymes: -eɾ
Proper noun
Xavier m
- (chiefly Spain and US) Alternative spelling of Javier