Xavier is a name of Spanish and Basque origin, meaning "new house" or "bright". It is derived from the Basque word "Etchegoin", which means "good house", and was later Hispanicized to "Xavier".
The name Xavier became popular through Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552), a Basque priest who traveled to India and Japan as part of his missionary work. He was a close companion of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Saint Francis Xavier is considered one of the greatest missionaries in history and is revered as the patron saint of missions.
The name Xavier began to be used more frequently after the canonization of Saint Francis Xavier in 1622. It has since become a popular given name for boys, particularly among Catholics. Variations of the name include Xavierus, Javier, and Savior. The name is also associated with the Xavier family name, which is derived from the Basque word "Etchegoin".
In conclusion, Xavier is a name with Spanish and Basque origins that means "new house" or "bright". It gained popularity due to Saint Francis Xavier's missionary work and has since become a popular boys' given name.
"The name Xavier saw a steady increase in popularity from 5 births in 1995 to a peak of 15 births in 2008, after which it fluctuated with an average of around 7 births per year until 2017."