Which boys names do you prefer?

[Babe3107]

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

translate.google.co.uk/#fr/en/Xavier
listen to both

The “Zay-vee-er” pronunciation is awful, so on that basis Rafael and no Xavier.

Xavier pronounced correctly is a fine name.

Sorry don't like either name.
What about Michael or Ralph.

Xavier pronounced Zay-vee-yuh, it’s smart, I love it.

I dislike the Zay vee er.version of Xavier too.

I would have said

zav ee ay (as in abc) - the French way

Definitely Raphael Xavier for me - love the nickname Raffy or Rafa too!

Now Tat, you know very well that it's Zay-vee-er to me and every other brit on this thread.

If you read the thread half the British are saying it’s dreadful.

I did listen to both google translations. The French is Za vee eh, and the English is Zayvier. Which is why I pointed equally mangled English versions of Sigolène and Anaïs.

Whatever. Call the baby Xerxes.

Hi. I'm looking for a kids hairdressers. Does anyone know of one in the Windsor / Ascot area?

Rafael Xavier!

I prefer Rafael Xavier, though I like both options. And Xavier pronounced in the English way (as you do OP) is fine.

Rafael.

Tatiana, when in London, how do you pronounce Paris?

And the Hampshire town of Beaulieu?

St Francis Xavier college was originally a Grammar school, so donkeys years old, and is in London, not middle England.

Personally:
Raphael Xavier

(But faced with Xavier as a name I would say Za -vee- ay)

(Unless I could see the surname was Spanish in which case I would assume Ha-vee-uh)

I’m british and would assume Zaa not Zay
The X is somewhat of a clue that it’s not your typical English word
I was going to comment Xavier as my choice but if you’re going to choose an alternative pronounciation then I change my vote to Raphael

I’m English & wouldn’t pronounce Francesca in an ‘English style’
Shouting Franssesca & insisting I’m a Brit so why not would make me sound like a right tool

Xavier Rafael

What IS in your head zombie?

I teach a Xavier at the moment and there are at least three ways his name is pronounced, including the incredibly grating Ex-ayvier

So for that reason alone I'd have it as the middle name.

Now having RTFT I have to add I pronounced it the French way the first time I met him, assuming it had some heritage to it, and he (and everyone else) looked at me like I'd got two heads so the anglicised way seems to be the most common. It's just the hard X that I can't stand, personally.

Definitely Xavier Rafael!!!!