Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Which boys names do you prefer?

73 replies

Babe3107 · 23/07/2018 21:51

Xavier Rafael or Rafael Xavier?
Pronounced 'Zay-vee-er'

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
scolotti · 23/07/2018 21:52

Rafael Xavier

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/07/2018 21:56

Xavier Raphael

DaniCam89 · 23/07/2018 21:57

I prefer Xavier Raphael x

Pingipinguin · 23/07/2018 22:21

Raphael Xavier

Original poster
Babe3107 · 23/07/2018 22:22

Thanks. I'm not really sure and can't make up my mind!

OP posts:
Greeneyedgeek83 · 23/07/2018 22:41

Rafael Xavier. Love Rafael

BevBrook · 23/07/2018 22:43

Xavier Rafael.
This isn’t going to help, is it OP Grin

Halfblindbunny · 23/07/2018 22:44

Xavier Rafael

Scrubslife · 23/07/2018 22:46

Rafael will be spelt Raphael etc so do you mind that?
Xavier is becoming increasingly popular (all the ones I meet get call Xavy)

Personally, prefer Rafael Xavier

Pingipinguin · 23/07/2018 23:07

I think you should flip a coin OP!Grin

TatianaLarina · 23/07/2018 23:09

Xavier is not pronounced Zayvier - it’s either Zaa vee ay or Haa vee ay.

Paired with Rafael people will assume it’s the latter.

Mousefunky · 24/07/2018 07:23

There’s an Xaviar in my DD’s class that’s pronounced how it is spelt with a hard X. I prefer Rafael.

sonnyboo · 24/07/2018 08:02

Xavier is not pronounced Zayvier - it’s either Zaa vee ay or Haa vee ay.

I agree. The first syllable is defined Zaa or Haa. There is no y.

ButterflyOfFreedom · 24/07/2018 08:05

Rafael Xavier

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 24/07/2018 09:53

Xavier Rafael.

Smoliver · 24/07/2018 11:54

Rafael Xavier

MikeUniformMike · 24/07/2018 12:02

Xavier. I don't much like Raphael, and Raf/Raph sounds too much like RAF, and seems a bit downmarket.

WillowPeach · 24/07/2018 15:25

Xavier Raphael

Cosmoa · 24/07/2018 15:43

Xavier is not pronounced Zayvier - it’s either Zaa vee ay or Haa vee ay.

That may be technically true.. But whether you like it or not.. Loooads of people pronounce it zayvier.

Cosmoa · 24/07/2018 15:44

And I can't decide either OP! I agree you should flip a coin. If you're happy with the outcome, go with that. If you're disappointed, go with the other!

Icklepup · 24/07/2018 17:12

Rafael Xavier

TroubledLichen · 24/07/2018 18:04

Xavier is not pronounced Zayvier - it’s either Zaa vee ay or Haa vee ay.

Paired with Rafael people will assume it’s the latter.

^THIS. Sorry OP but your pronunciation sounds like an Americanised fail so Rafael gets my vote.

MikeUniformMike · 24/07/2018 19:01

I think the British pronunciation is Zay-vee-er. This is what I've heard churches and schools with Xavier in the name (e.g. St Francis Xavier) are mentioned.
American is Ex-ay-vee-er.
French is Zav-ee-ay.
Spanish is Javier and is pronounced in a spanish way a bit like Hav-ee-err.

TatianaLarina · 24/07/2018 19:17

It’s incorrectly pronounced Zayvee er among British who don’t know the actual pronunciation or don’t speak other languages.

Pingipinguin · 24/07/2018 20:53

@TatianaLarina
If he's living in the U.K. then why would it matter?

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.