Boys name Xavi?

[dinkydoodlebug]

Thoughts please, I love the French pronunciation of Xavier but no one would say it that way in England. Xavi I like but does it seem like a stand alone name?

How is it pronounced in French? Zav-ee-ay or Hav-ee-ay, or something else? I’d assume it was Zav-ee-ay (or maybe zav-ee- uh) if I just saw it written down, so I’d assume Xavi to be Zav-ee.

Xavi does look like a nickname though. Maybe go for Xavier as his formal name but always use Xavi?

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t pronounce Xavier the French way so you may underestimate the British. Unless they’re Spanish of course.

The first (only?) Xavi who comes to mind for me is Xavi Alonso, so my instinct is to pronounce it chabby/shabby - but from the context of your post I think that might not be what you're hoping for?

I would assume the French pronunciation of Xavier btw. They're both lovely names.

Oh, wait, he's Xabi isn't he. I think that would still make me start with sh/ch but perhaps less defensibly?!

The usual English pronunciation rhymes with ‘saviour’.

The only Xavier I know in the UK is pronounced Za-vee-ay, nickname Xavi. He is very cute, HTH.

I'd pronounce Xavier as Ksa-vee-eh.

And Xavi as Ksavi

I’d pronounce Xavier as Zavier.

Xavi as Javi/Jabi (but I speak Spanish).

I’d pronounce Xavier as Zay-vee-air. Although I did hear it pronounced Ex-ay-vee-er the other day.

I’d pronounce Xavi as za-vee.

The french pronunciation differs though - some people will pronounce the 'x' as 'z' and some as 'gz'. Which one do you prefer?

I know a Xavi pronounced the Portuguese way: Shavvy. It's fine when he is introduced or introduces himself to people, but he has to explain how to pronounce his name when people see it written down.

It was very funny when someone who openly admitted that they couldn't work out how to pronounce 'Xavi', then went on to query Xavi's pronunciation of his own name!

Xavi is pronounced "chavi" where I live in Spain. I like it but I would never name someone that if they were going to be brought up in England at any point.

Chavvy wouldn't go down well in England!

I know a javier, pronounced ha - vee- air.

Nobody struggles with the pronunciation 

hulabaloo

I'd say it as Shavy as I speak Portuguese.

It's a complicated name and one I love, but I ruled it out for my children due to the obvious Chavy connection, plus the various Spanish/Portuguese/Catelonian/French/Italian variations, not to mention the god awful habit of some English speakers to say, for reasons known only to them, X-Zavier.

Xavier I'd pronounce the French way. It's lovely.

Xavi I'd guess the Spanish way. Also it reminds me of the footballer Xabi.