Xavier as a first name

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP—thanks so much for everyone’s reactions (even those who don’t like the name or take my husband’s side). It seems like it really is a multi-ethnic name that DH and I have just encountered in very different contexts. I do like the name a lot and it has some sentimental meaning for me (my late grandpa’s middle name), but it’s not the only good name out there and probably not worth a big fight!

It’s Basque. Not black. Came from a 16th century Catholic Saint. Very popular in Spanish and Italian Catholic cultures. It’s Javier in Spanish. I like it but your kid will
be teased. Middle name?

[Anonymous]

Xavier is a European name. It's just that black people have started to use it frequently. I find the fact that white people stop using a name once it becomes common for black people a form of racism. It's like the name Tyrone. Tyrone is also a European name, but white parents almost entirely stopped using it once black people started using it.

White parents stop using European names once they become popular for black people because they do not want their white kids to be mistaken for black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Xavier is a European name. It's just that black people have started to use it frequently. I find the fact that white people stop using a name once it becomes common for black people a form of racism. It's like the name Tyrone. Tyrone is also a European name, but white parents almost entirely stopped using it once black people started using it.

White parents stop using European names once they become popular for black people because they do not want their white kids to be mistaken for black.

This. God forbid multiple (!!!) black children might share a name with their child. It's the baby name equivalent of white flight. Black families start to move into a neighborhood? White families move out. Black parents start to use a certain name for their children? White parents stop using that name for their children. Segregation ending is merely an illusion. Self-segregation is alive and well.

[Anonymous]

Wait so it’s a butchered Javier? Or is it legit spelling. I don’t understand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait so it’s a butchered Javier? Or is it legit spelling. I don’t understand

The original name is a place name in the Basque region of Spain, a town spelled Xabier in Basque and Javier in Spanish. In Basque, the pronunciation is "sha-byehr". In Spanish, it's "ha-byehr". It means "new house." The name came to prominence via one of the 16th century founders of the Jesuits, Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta, who was born in Xabier. He was later canonized and referred to as San Francisco de Xabier (or de Javier). In English, that translated to Saint Francis of Xavier, pronounced "ZAY-vee-er" or "ZAY-vyer". Note that in English, some people say "eg-ZAY-vyer" but that's incorrect.

[Anonymous]

I liked the name Harvey but everyone convinced me it’s an African American name and I’d be weird to name my son that. I wish I’d ignored everyone. Other names on my list that I allowed random people to torpedo for me: Albert and Frances.

[Anonymous]

My youngest son's name is Xavier. We're fully white. We love it and honestly did/do not care who else has the name and/or what anyone else has to say about it. If someone told me that they didn't like Xavier, then my advice to them would be not to name their son it then. Our children's names are up to us to decide. Other people can name their own children what they like. They're not going to name their children and my children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked the name Harvey but everyone convinced me it’s an African American name and I’d be weird to name my son that. I wish I’d ignored everyone. Other names on my list that I allowed random people to torpedo for me: Albert and Frances.

The only Harveys that I've met and know of have been Ashkenazi Jewish (think Harvey Levin and Harvey Weinstein) or British. I also don't think it's a common name for younger black Americans at all. Older black men would be more likely to be named Harvey than younger black kids/men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait so it’s a butchered Javier? Or is it legit spelling. I don’t understand

The original name is a place name in the Basque region of Spain, a town spelled Xabier in Basque and Javier in Spanish. In Basque, the pronunciation is "sha-byehr". In Spanish, it's "ha-byehr". It means "new house." The name came to prominence via one of the 16th century founders of the Jesuits, Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta, who was born in Xabier. He was later canonized and referred to as San Francisco de Xabier (or de Javier). In English, that translated to Saint Francis of Xavier, pronounced "ZAY-vee-er" or "ZAY-vyer". Note that in English, some people say "eg-ZAY-vyer" but that's incorrect.

Why is Ex-Zay-vee-er incorrect?

[Anonymous]

What about magneto

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP—thanks so much for everyone’s reactions (even those who don’t like the name or take my husband’s side). It seems like it really is a multi-ethnic name that DH and I have just encountered in very different contexts. I do like the name a lot and it has some sentimental meaning for me (my late grandpa’s middle name), but it’s not the only good name out there and probably not worth a big fight!

It’s Basque. Not black. Came from a 16th century Catholic Saint. Very popular in Spanish and Italian Catholic cultures. It’s Javier in Spanish. I like it but your kid will
be teased. Middle name?

And Tyrone is a name of Irish origins yet the vast majority of Americans when asked to picture a Tyrone envision it as a black name.

Xavier is no different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Irish Catholic and there are a lot of. Xaviers as middle names in my family. I would like to use it as a first name for a ds. My husband claims that it would be appropriation to do so because Xavier as a first name is for African Americans only. Who is right?

This is not a right/wrong question.

You're both sort of right. I know a few Xaviers, and about half are Irish or Italian Catholic and half are African American.

I think it's a good name, even slightly underused. Be prepared that you can't control the nickname ... I hear "X" and "X Man," and that would not be my preference for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Like Zander or Xander

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a Hispanic/Latino name

Only if it’s spelled Javier. 🤷‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked the name Harvey but everyone convinced me it’s an African American name and I’d be weird to name my son that. I wish I’d ignored everyone. Other names on my list that I allowed random people to torpedo for me: Albert and Frances.

Most Harveys are white, but they’re also 80 years old.