Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Xavier

105 replies

Perpetualmisery · 29/09/2021 17:34

What do you think of this?
I've always loved this name and was worried my Moroccan husband wouldn't but luckily zaviyar is also an Arabic name and same meaning apparently so he's fine with it but it's not common either here or Morocco so I'm worried I'll look try hard.
Not sure how I'll spell it yet but baby not due till Jan so have plenty of time.
Do you think it sounds chavvy or pretentious and also any arabic speakers have you heard of zaviyar?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
user142536 · 01/10/2021 11:50

possibly the 'aye' sound at the end was more of a 'eer'
depends if you can roll your 'R's French style.

user142536 · 01/10/2021 11:50

zav-i-aye

That is how my French friend pronounced his name.

user142536 · 01/10/2021 11:48

I like the name.

I pronounce it starting with a Z sound and thought that was correct and that is how a French friend pronounced their name.
In fact, this French friend definitely used a Z sound because when I was young and dim I assumed the name must also start with a Z letter and was surprised to see the X letter.

Quite a common and normal name in France.

FloconDeNeige · 01/10/2021 10:27

Also, the French don’t pronounce Xavier with the ‘Z’ sound.

The X means it’s pronounced ‘Kss-zav-e-ay’. The K sound is fast, aspirated and kinda like the noise you make when you impersonate a snake… ksssss, but short.

FayCarew · 01/10/2021 10:14

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_(given_name)

I only know of it as a catholic saint's name. It was on the list of names for DC. The risk of some saying Ekzavier put us off.

Original poster
Perpetualmisery · 01/10/2021 09:13

@faycarew

Sorry if I'm being dumb here, so it ISNT an Arabic name? I have heard that it is and when I Google it comes up as Arabic. Eveb when you Google xavier is says it has arab origins.
Blush I think I may go back to the baby books and start over. It's just that nothing else has come close to me to stand out I don't know why it's so difficult when my other dcs names were so easy for me. Maybe my hormones are making mr crazy.

OP posts:
accentdusoleil · 01/10/2021 09:06

zuhair?

I know it's not Z but similar sound : Soulayman

FayCarew · 01/10/2021 09:02

@Perpetualmisery, the arabic spelling isn't particularly relevant, as the name isn't arabic and has no direct transliteration.

You can write it in arabic as the equivalenr of Zafeear, or Z-eye-vee-ar or Zav-ee-ir.

Unless you are planning to write the name in Arabic, it doesn't really matter.

The easiest option would to spell it Zayviar if that is how you are going to say it. That would be زافيار.

Original poster
Perpetualmisery · 01/10/2021 08:20

@tatianabis

I meant pronouncing it with a z and not an X.
If its meant to be pronounced zah viar in Arabic then that's what we'd do. I cant read Arabic so that's why I posted about wanting more info on the meaning spelling and pronunciation of the name.
However I've been told now by a few Asian friends that they would say zayviar? So I'm still none the wiser

OP posts:
Original poster
Perpetualmisery · 01/10/2021 08:16

@accentdusoleil those names are lovely but I prefer something a bit more uncommon plus we have a zaid, 3 zakarias and a zayn in the family already.
Zeke I've not heard of, not overly keen but will look into the meaning and origin of it.

OP posts:
Kyliealwayshadthebestdisco · 01/10/2021 00:51

LOVE this name, go for it!

Marcipex · 30/09/2021 23:41

I cringe at Exayvee-er too. Surely it is just wrong.

EasterIssland · 30/09/2021 23:38

In case you decide for the name and want to take tbe baby to the origin of the name
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Xavier

TatianaBis · 30/09/2021 23:36

@Redlocks28

I’ve taught a few-all pronounced Exayveer. I teach in an area of very high socio-economic deprivation which some (my MIL) would describe as having v chavvy parents. It’s not a name I’d choose.
Xavier is not associated with any particular class.

It's the pronunciation that is the class marker. Exayvee er is how English people pronounce it who don't speak other languages & don't know how it's pronounced. Like the Louis/Louie divide.

Redlocks28 · 30/09/2021 23:30

I’ve taught a few-all pronounced Exayveer. I teach in an area of very high socio-economic deprivation which some (my MIL) would describe as having v chavvy parents. It’s not a name I’d choose.

TatianaBis · 30/09/2021 23:24

@Perpetualmisery

I would definitely pronounce it zayviar

Why? That's not how it's pronounced in Arabic (Za vee are)

Zayvier is a bloody awful English mangling of a Spanish/French/Arabic name

accentdusoleil · 30/09/2021 21:39

What about zakaria or zain or zayd or zeke?

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 30/09/2021 17:19

We have a Xavier at school. He's 10, very sensible for his age, absolutely hilarious and bloody brilliant. Fantastic name.

likeacandleinthewind · 30/09/2021 17:08

Love it.

Mimosa1 · 30/09/2021 16:59

I used to know a lovely Moroccan man called Bushaid.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 30/09/2021 16:32

Love Xavier - neither chavvy or pretentious imo, the only issue if you are UK based will be pronunciation as people seem torn between "Zah - vee -er" and "Zay -vee -er" if that matters (you might even get the occasional "Ex -zay -vee- er" like the X Men!)

Strugglingtodomybest · 30/09/2021 10:12

I like it, I don't see it as chavvy or pretentious.

FloconDeNeige · 30/09/2021 09:58

DS1 has a very similar name, with Occitane spelling (which used to do my head in but DH insisted on). He holds French nationality though, via DH.

My British family took a while to get used to pronouncing it properly.

SeanChailleach · 30/09/2021 09:51

Does "chavvy" mean Irish Catholic diaspora by any chance?
Just go for Zavier or whatever spelling you like. Which kid is going to pick on him, in an urban British school - Kamal, Janusz, Dmitriu, Mohi, Mercedes, Yaa, or Chukwu?

Original poster
Perpetualmisery · 30/09/2021 08:44

I mean i live in a chavvy area so I would fit right in then! Grin
Anybody know of similar ish names I could go for instead?

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread