Sam or Xavier???

[NichyNoo]

Hi ladies

I'm due in 3 weeks and we know it is a little boy. DH and I can't decide between two names:

• Samuel James
• Xavier James

Xavier would be pronounced Zavier rather than X-saviour IYSWIM.

Our surname begins with an 'S' and goes well with both names. We live in Belgium but will move back to the UK in future so the name has to work in both French and English. I kind of want to be brave and go for Xaviour but DH is under family influence to play safe and go for Sam. Any opinions???

I love the name Xavier.

I reckon people will pronounce (and spell) Xavier wrong to your continual annoyance. I pronounced it, in my head, as Havier (iyswim!). Go for Samuel - that sounds really nice.

Xavier.

Xavier

Xavier every time, it's on my list too.

Love Sam and Samuel.

xavier

Sam

Xavier...("Zavier") you just have to tell his teachers how to say it. Its lovely.

I like the name Sam.

I love Xavier. Personally I would not use Xavier, as my family would consider it pretentious. If I was from a family that had european connections, or were upper class, I would use it.

Hope the last comment does not offend anyone, but I live in North Wales, and around here, unless you are rich and privately educating your children, it would be considered pompous. Probably in the South East it is different.

Sam is lovely but I really do like Xavier (Zavier).

Either way, both are great choices!

Thanks for the input!!

Kathleen123 - no offence taken I conmpletely agree! I'm from Liverpool originally and DH from deepest Devon so Xavier would sound pretentious in both those places...however when we move back from Belgium I don't think we would head to either of those areas to work so should be safe!!!

I did tell DH that if Spain won the World Cup we should name him Xavier but now he seems to be backtracking

I have a Samuel James but love Xavier as well, but that would not have suited my Sam

Xavier

I like them both although would lean towards Sam personally.

Xavier I'd automatically pronounce Zavier, if that's any help/reassurance!

I have an 8yr old Xavier (ZAY-VEE-ER).
He loves his name and is know as 'Zayvie' to his friends. Most people have had no problems with how to say it although when 1st started school he used to get the odd card addressed to zayvear!! No problems now though as his friends all know how its spelt.

Samuel

I actually really like both. I can't imagine people having problems with Xavier - but could be wrong.

I think if I had to choose I would go with Samuel just because it is a fabulous name. Love it.

Xavier - My oh works with a guy, his son is Xavier, they are French, I really like it.

The name Sam is lovely, but ever so popular, he may well end up being one of many in a school year!

Xavier is my preference!

Xavier - great if you are French. Otherwise I prefer Samuel because otherwise i imagine a lifetime of explaining why you have been called a French name if you are not French.....plus no one will spell it correctly....

I don't know!

I used to have a cat called Sam so could never name a child Sam! Don't let that influence you though!

Xavier is nice, and I think if you see it written down most people would know how to say it. The more likely problem is with people hearing it said then not knowing how to spell it.
BUT if your surname begins with S his first and last initials would be XS which I think sounds funny (excess). Does this matter? I don't know.

Good luck with your choice!

Xavier - love it.

Sam much nicer. Xavier always make me think it's javier/havier. It will be constant spelling unless it gets more popular as i think there is one on Home and Away or there was.

Sam. i like Xavier as well but definitely prefer Sam.