Do you know/have you met anyone called Xan?

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

I'm considering this name for my DS - I like that it's short and simple but uncommon (and as a bonus kind of cool sounding, at least according to Nameberry ). Does anyone know one? If so do they like it or have any issues with their name that you know of?

The "Xan" for Xanax nn thing doesn't really bother me (since we are in the UK and rarely travel to the US) and he would be Alexander on the birth certificate for CV purposes or if he wanted a change when older anyway.

Thanks for your help .

[TSSDNCOP]

I know a Xandy, (said Zarndy) short for Alexander that naturally gets shortened further to Xan. Great name for a great kid.

[TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet]

The only person I’ve met called Xan was a girl from Hong Kong.

[Arethechildreninbedyet]

I don’t know a Xan but I know a few Xanders and one Zander I’ve heard all referred to as Xan/Zan. I like it!

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

Oops cross post! Thanks again for the help everyone

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

I think it's Dr Xand @PenelopeVonDelius , but I do like Xand too, thanks. (I don't dislike the name Xander either but because of my age it just reminds me a bit too much of the annoying/dodgy character on Buffy!).

Who is that @MadameGazellee ?

[gogohm]

Seems fine, he'll be registered with a flexible formal name so can change the shortening if he prefers too

[RuthW]

It's lovely as a shortening for Alexander.

[PenelopeVonDelius]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xand_van_Tulleken

OK he is Xand.

[PenelopeVonDelius]

Isn't there a Dr Xan from that cbbc program about hospitals? Dr Xan Tullikan?

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

Thanks for the support @EdithWeston - I can't figure out why I would need to explain my ethnic heritage on my OP either (and indeed my supposed lack of intellectual ability/educational opportunities too?) , especially when on a post asking "Do you know anyone called Xan?, not "How should I pronounce Alexander?" Luckily Mumsnet agreed it sounded bigoted and quickly deleted the post.

@meditrina - thanks for the Sasha suggestion. I did consider it but unfortunately judging by statistics Sasha seems mainly used for girls in the UK (in the late 90's it came close to the top 100 for girls so there must be lots about). And I must admit I like the sound of Xan more - probably as I like similar Sam and Dan as well (but am sadly not as keen on the full versions of those names).

Thanks very much everyone for all the replies about Xan , it's really interesting how many of you know one - far more than I would have guessed (and from the statistics which obviously only lists given names rather than nn's - but still only lists it for boys and at about 4 a year at most). It's reassuring that it's no one knows of any teasing with the name.

[FiveGs]

I know a Xan, late 30s. Bit of a twit but he's the only one I know. I would like it more if it wasn't attached to him!

[Lokdok]

Yes, a Chinese girl. Makes me think of The drug…

[MolkosTeenageAngst]

I know a toddler who has Xander on his birth certificate but is known as Xan.

[Tobchette]

I know a Zain whose name is pronounced Zan.
Love the name Xander.

[meditrina]

It's a non-standard transliteration for the Chinese name element, I'm slightly surprised so many have come across it.

A traditional shortening across much of mainland Europe (and the dominant one in Eastern Europe) is Sasha. One to consider?

[AgedVellum]

The Xans I know are all female.

Where do you live, OP, that most people pronounce Alexander Al-EE-zander?

[PAFMO]

@CoffeeRunner

I know one. They are Chinese.

Same.

[EdithWeston]

@GreyhoundG1rl

You should preface your posts with "Only the divinely inspired post here", op.
Or you could try the tried and tested method of putting all relevant information in the actual post?
Works for most people 🤷🏻‍♀️

The other opening post is fine - it asks exactly the question she wanted answering.

No way of predicting what unfounded assumptions might creep in as the thread progresses, and none of us have a crystal ball for that.

For the one I know, the pronunciations are Alexander = alec-zarnder, (which is how I 'hear' Armstrong on telly say his name) , Xander = zarnder (ie just chopping the first syllable off, again like Armstrong) but Xan = zan (no idea why the vowel changed)

[MrsT84]

My son is Xander. He is nearly 7. No one ever shortens his name. I guess it's short enough already! We didn't go for "Alexander" because we didn't want him to become "Alex/ Al".

[Shasha17]

This guy. Great namesake 😂

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

Thanks to all those trying to be helpful with their replies, whether you like Xan or not - and it's really great to hear from those who have met one!

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

I am British, thank you very much! @GreyhoundG1rl . You just rudely assumed my family are British born when nothing like that was ever mentioned? Why are you even on this thread if you clearly have issues with foreign accents and haven't mentioned knowing anyone named Xan, which was my original question. There are many people living in the UK with foreign heritage btw - I'm sorry you don't think my family and I speak "properly" .

[starrynight21]

I like it ! Xander is a name I've always liked, and Xan is nice too.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

And fwiw, I'm not British either... I reiterate, xenophobia my arse.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

You should preface your posts with "Only the divinely inspired post here", op.
Or you could try the tried and tested method of putting all relevant information in the actual post?
Works for most people 🤷🏻‍♀️