Zavia - help wanted from people with definitive knowledge please!

[Catsycat]

I am expecting a girl, and like the name Zavia. However, online dictionaries are telling me two conflicting things:

a) it is a female version of Xavier
b) it is a regional Spanish male variant of Xavier

I also wanted to check the pronunciation - is it the same as Xavier (zay-vee-ah) or is it zah-vee-ah? I've also seen both pronunciations online.

I would love some help on this from anyone out there who knows for sure, please.

Thanks for reading this!

Zavia is a English girl name. The meaning of the name is `Bright New House.

Thanks for responding Greenshirt. I read that on one of the many name websites too, but it was contradicted by the next several sites I looked at.

Anyone out there who knows anyone with that name (or has it themselves) - are they male or female, and any hints on correct pronunciation? I'm not worried about the meaning, as I know that is the same as for Xavier, or whether you think it's nice or not (sorry!). I just don't want to saddle DD3 with a boys name...

I find that 'Behind The Name' is the most reliable site, and this is what it has to say:

ZAVIA
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: ZAY-vee-ə, ZAYV-yə

Meaning & History:Modern feminine form of XAVIER
Variants: Xavia, Xaviera
Masculine forms: Xavier, Xavior, Xzavier, Zavier
Other languages: Saveria (Italian)

Ah, MN doesn't like the pronunciation symbol. Substitute "uh" for the upside-down e then (I think that's called a schwah or something like that)

ZAY-vee-uh
ZAY-vee-yuh

Thanks for the recommendation Percy. It's hard to know which sites to trust - one website told me that "Hummer" and "Bubba" would be suitable names to go with those of my two DDs.....

Xavia is better. But Hummer is best.

hully

Oh OP it does sound like a car. Don't do it!!!

I like it (really like girls names beginning with Z!), but please- don't ask peoples opinions as everyone likes different names! If you like it, go for it and don't let people put you off!

Well, as I said in my earlier post, I am not really interested in whether other people think it's a nice name or not. I just wanted to hear from anyone who personally knew someone with the name... seems like it's rare enough for no-one to know a Zavia though.

Thanks Fluffy my other two girls have Z names too (Zara and Zena). Don't worry, DH and I will name the baby - I'm far too old and stubborn to be swayed by whether someone else likes what we choose .