Of Basque origin.
Spanish form of the name Xavier.
Derives from a Basque place name “Etxaberri”, which means “the new house”.
It was the surname of the Jesuit priest Saint Francisco Xavier (1506-1552).
It was not used as a given name until after he died, during a missionary trip to China, and he was canonized in 1622.
He is the patron saint of the Orient and missionaries.
The earliest evidence found of Xavier used as an independent given name is in mid-18th century Italy. The name Xavier in Italian is Saviero: Saviero Bettinelli, an18th century Italian theater critic, and Saviero dalla Rosa, who painted Mozart in 1770.
Alternative forms of the name are: Xavier, Xavi, Xavior, Xabier.
Famous bearers are Javier Bardem, Javier Culson, Javier Mascherano, Javier Saviola, Javier Solis, Javier Baez, Javier Sotomayor.
Javier is a popular name in Spain, Chile, United States, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand.
Spanish actor Javier Bardem has won all the awards an actor dreams of winning, in his career so far: Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Goya and several more.
His first major role was in Bigas Luna’s film “The Ages of Lulu”, and since then he has worked with some of the world’s greatest directors, such as Alejandro Amenabar, Woody Allen, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ethan & Joel Coen, Pedro Almodóvar, Michael Mann.