Xavier is a name of Spanish origin, derived from the Basque name Etxeberri, which means "new house." It was popularized by Saint Francis Xavier, a missionary who traveled to Asia in the 16th century and was responsible for spreading Christianity throughout the region.
The name Xavier has been used for centuries, with its earliest known usage dating back to the 15th century. However, it gained significant popularity after the canonization of Saint Francis Xavier in 1622, when many families began naming their sons after the saint.
Throughout history, Xavier has been associated with intelligence, wisdom, and devotion due to the accomplishments of its most famous namesake. Today, it remains a popular name worldwide, particularly in Spain, France, and English-speaking countries like the United States. Despite its Spanish origin, Xavier is also used as a given name for both boys and girls in many other cultures and languages.
In terms of popularity, Xavier has consistently ranked among the top 1000 baby names in the United States since the 1970s. Its most popular period was between the late 1980s and early 2000s, when it peaked at number 354 for boys in 1996.
Some notable people with the name Xavier include French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), Spanish footballer Xavi Hernández (born 1980), and American actor Javier Bardem (born 1969). However, these individuals are not meant to represent or influence perceptions about the personality traits associated with the name Xavier.
The popularity of the name Xavier seems to have peaked between 2002 and 2007 with consistently high numbers of births each year, reaching a peak of 41 births in 2006. However, from 2008 onwards, there was a significant decline in the number of babies named Xavier at birth, with the total dropping to as low as 8 births in 2022. Overall, between 1988 and 2023, there were a total of 626 births registered with the name Xavier.