Xavier

[Rosesaredead]

How do you pronounce Xavier?

Everyone I have met with this name in the UK or USA pronounces it "Zay-vee-er" which I really like.

But on Mumsnet when people suggest saying it this way they often get ripped to shreds and told to pronounce it the Spanish way which sounds lovely said in a Spanish accent by a Spanish person but just makes me cringe when said in a British accent and which I KNOW would get me so many looks if I used for my child. In fact, I'd be giving myself looks.

So what do you think? Is it really necessary to pronounce it the Spanish way? If so, why is this the only name which people passionately feel can't be anglicanised? The poster who say it must be pronounced in the Spanish way are often so aggressive about it that it's made me anxious! Is it really so terrible to pronounce it the English way? Other names don't get people saying this. For example, we love Genevieve for a girl and posted about it on here but nobody told me I should pronounce it 'Gene-vee-ev' because that's how it's said in France.

Advice please!

Thanks for all the opinions!

Lavenderblues - well the y sound comes from the fact that the name is spelled exactly like the English word 'saviour' but with an 'x' at the beginning rather than an 's'. So as a PP said, the English pronunciation almost rhymes with the word saviour. If I were to spell saviour how it sounds, I'd write 'say-vyuh' which is more-or-less how I'd say Xavier except I'd drag out the 'ier' sound a bit more. Hence 'Zay-vee-uh'. This is how a lot of other people seem to pronounce it too.

ginghamstarfish - it seems like there are SO many ways that people pronounce it that maybe you'd be right that it's best just to go with something more simple! Or just spend my life having this discussion!

SoupDragon - Zah-vee-air sounds nice actually, I really like this too! Which has further complicated things! 😂

Woke up - she's unreal 😂 like a character from a sitcom. Slightly Hyacinth Bucket but a meaner version!

French: zsa-vee-eh
Spanish : Ha-vee-air
Americans: Ex-ay-vee-err

I really like it, I would have used it for DS except DSIL used it for her eldest. They're French so use the French pronunciation.

Zay- vee- er

It was on our my list,good job I didn't use it if I can't pronounce it!

I don't see how Saviour has anything in common with Xavier?! But obviously some of you do

I would pronounce it Ha-vee-er or Shah-vee-de. It depends on how the person chooses are these are normal pronounciations in Spain. I take football players Xabi Alonso and Xavi as guides fien pronounciation.

Lavenderblues - what don't you understand? 😂 It's as simple as the words are almost spelt the same. That's literally it.

The one we know everyone else called him ex-ay-ve-a.

His parents are film buffs so I assumed that's where they got it from. She is a language teacher and it felt wrong to question it. She said to me well done for getting it right!

I think it's pronounced differntly in different parts of the world and I'd go with what e parents want.I like it pronounced the french, english and spanish way!

Anything but Ex Ay Vi Ah 🤨

I don't see how Saviour has anything in common with Xavier?!

Replace the S of Saviour with a Z. That's how some people pronounce Xavier.

Think of it as ‘wavier’ with a Z if that helps.

Have- e- err is Javier in Spanish. Xavier I've heard pronounced with a 'Ch' but this maybe just in the Catalan region? Hopefully someone whose Spanish is better than mine could confirm

Yes, i’ve only seen it as Javier in Spain, pronounced Hav-ee-ay, if I saw Xavier I would assume French version and thus French pronunciation, which is kzavi-ay or Zavi-ay

Think of it as ‘wavier’ with a Z if that helps.

See, I'd pronounce that Wav-ee-é or wav-ee-ay in English.

And yet I pronounce wave as wayv

Where on earth are you from, Lavender? In the sentence 'my hair is wavier than yours' you would pronounce it wav-ee-ay? Do you pronounce 'lazier' as 'laz-ee-ay'?!

ThanksItHasPockets I know! I didn't like to question it tbh for fear of sounding like a know it all. The problem is you can't really correct the pronunciation when the child exists!

'laz-ee-ay' 😂😂

I agree with Melassa.

Spanish is spelt with a j.

We had a Xavier at school in the 1980’s. He pronounced it Zav-I-ey. But was mostly called Zav.

Ok, I admit I that I'd pronounce wavier as wayveeer in an English context.

But when I see Xavier for some reason I see Xa vee é!

Of course I'd pronounce his name however he preferred

Large Catholic college in my home town (NZ) and it’s pronounced Zayvier. French friends in England call their son Zavyair

Aquifolium Melassa

Spanish is Javier and Xavier. The letters J and X have the same sound (only a few exceptions)

I've come across a few little Xaviers and all are pronounced Zay-vee-er. It's and English speaking country, and I thought that was the normal pronunciation in English. Nice name.

I’d say Zav-ee-ay simply because that’s the most common way I’ve heard it used. But it’s one of those names you can anglisice, and once people know that’s your preference it’s easy enough to remember. A bit like Esme and Esmè

I'd say zav-yay.