Xavier means new house in Basque — from etxe berri (new house). Saint Francis Xavier was one of the greatest missionaries in history, co-founding the Jesuits and travelling from Europe to India, Japan, and the edges of China. Professor Xavier leads the X-Men. The X-opening makes it the most visually striking name in the top 100. Three syllables of Basque mystery and mutant leadership.
Basque etxe berri (new house)→place name Xabier→Saint Francis Xavier→English Xavier
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Basque roots
Xavier comes from the Basque place name Xabier, meaning new house. Saint Francis Xavier (1506–1552) co-founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) with Ignatius of Loyola and became one of the most influential missionaries in history, evangelising in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Marvel's Professor Charles Xavier leads the X-Men. The X-opening gives the name unmatched visual impact. Xavier has been in the US top 100.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Saint Francis Xavier (1506–1552), co-founder of the Jesuits.
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Today
Xavier remains a beloved choice, ranking #94 in the US. 157,909 babies have been named Xavier since 1886.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
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How popular is Xavier?
2007peak year
Xavier first appeared in U.S. records in 1886. The name climbed in popularity through the 2000s, reaching its peak of #68 nationally in 2007 with 6,560 babies that year. Xavier's usage has held roughly steady recently. Today, Xavier is a familiar choice on U.S. birth certificates, ranking in the top one hundred (#94) with about 4,040 babies named Xavier each year. In all, around 157,909 babies have been registered as Xavier since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Xavier's Life Path 3 is the communicator's number — communicating across continents. People named Xavier tend to be visionary, inclusive, and gifted at bringing different people together under one roof (a new house).
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