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Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce...

109 replies

Babynamechangerr · 06/10/2019 03:52

Xavier?

If you saw the name Xavier written down and had to say it out loud, how would you pronounce it?

I know there are different ways to pronounce, I just want to see what the most common is.

Would be useful to know if you're British or from elsewhere (as I know this may influence pronunciation).

Thanks for your help!

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Pukkaorange · 06/10/2019 07:47

I know 2 with the name. British is like saviour but with z sound at start and french is Zav-e-a with the e and a pronounced non-phonetically

cccameron · 06/10/2019 07:49

Either Zav-ee-er or Hav-ee-er

eurochick · 06/10/2019 07:53

Za-vee-ay

AverageMummy · 06/10/2019 08:09

Za-vee-Ay I’m british but haven’t known anyone with the name so could be wrong

Whoops75 · 06/10/2019 08:14

The one I know is savior with a Z

I would find another name
I don’t think anyone pronounces this correctly.

Symptomless · 06/10/2019 08:18

Gsay-vier or Ha-vier.

Danglingmod · 06/10/2019 08:21

Zav ee ay.

British but first came across it as a French name and have spent a lot of time in France. "er" at the end of a word is usually prn. "at" in French.

feelingchange · 06/10/2019 08:22

I would pronounce it Ex eh vee er. But I think that's because of the x men movies

Booboostwo · 06/10/2019 08:27

Gsa- vier

No idea why though!

ImpeachTrump · 06/10/2019 08:29

Zav E AY

CeeceeBloomingdale · 06/10/2019 08:30

Ha-vee-ay. I'm British

RhubarbAndMustard · 06/10/2019 09:05

Ha-vee-ah here too.

blackistheneworange · 06/10/2019 09:14

Zav-eee-ay

Was previously engaged to a French Xavier. Always called him Zav though!

Morado · 06/10/2019 09:53

I also make sort of a silent g sound like gzay-vee-er

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 06/10/2019 10:04

Zav ee uh

Dlpdep · 06/10/2019 10:08

Like Saviour with a Z.

CouscousEvaporator · 06/10/2019 10:14

Hav ee air
But all blended quickly

Grufallosfriends · 06/10/2019 10:31

It's spelled Xavier and not Zavier!

So pronounced Xa vee er and not Za vee er

The x sound is best described as gs

LadyGAgain · 06/10/2019 10:37

I'd say zavv-eee-ayyy (blended) but I know someone who upon announcing their son Xavier was born then said "and it is Exx-ayyy-Vee-ahh before anyone gets it wrong". Which I definitely would have.

Alpacathebag · 06/10/2019 10:38

Zave ee er to rhyme with saviour. I’m northern.

bevelino · 06/10/2019 10:43

Hav ee air. I have a dd named Ximena and pronounce it He men a.

Grasspigeons · 06/10/2019 10:48

Ha vee uh

Danglingmod · 06/10/2019 10:48

Grufallo - how do you pronounce xylophone??

IWantToBeNynaeve · 06/10/2019 10:55

I'd say Zay-vee-er but my dh would say Zsah-vee-ay (soft z) because he has a French colleague with that pronunciation so thats his first thought. Both Irish.

Tyrotoxicity · 06/10/2019 10:57

Would depend on whether I was a) in the company of people who'd appreciate a comedic mangling of a foreign name or b) really drunk.

If a) then it'll be a really embarrassingly awful version of either the French or Spanish pronunciations.

If b) then Zaev-yeh, because all foreign words come out in a very local accent when I am pissed.