Boy Names Starting with X

The Names from Xander to Xystos

• Xander: This short form of Alexander originates from Greek. The underlying words mean "to ward off" or "to protect" and "man".
• Xanthos: A name from the ancient Greek language region. It goes back to the Greek word for "yellow" or "blond".
• Xanthus: This is the Latinized spelling of the Greek name Xanthos, appearing primarily in historical texts.
• Xaver: The name traces back to the Basque place name Etxeberria. The word components mean "new" and "house". Xaver is the established form in the German-speaking area.
• Xavi: An established Spanish and Catalan short form of Xavier or Xaver, which is increasingly becoming an independent first name.
• Xavier: The French and English variant of Xaver.
• Xavion: A name from the US language region. The older word meaning is not definitively clarified; it is presumably a modern evolution of Xavier.
• Xeno: A short form of ancient Greek names starting with "Xeno-". The underlying word means "stranger" or "guest".
• Xenokrates: A historical Greek name. The word components can be translated as "foreign" and "power" or "rule".
• Xenon: A Greek first name that directly goes back to the word for "stranger" or "guest".
• Xenophon: An ancient Greek name. The word components mean "foreign" and "voice" or "sound".
• Xerxes: The Greek form of an Old Persian name. The Persian word root means "ruler over heroes" or "king of heroes".
• Xhafer: A form of the Arabic name Jafar common in Albanian. The Arabic root word means "stream" or "small river".
• Xhemal: The Albanian variant of the Arabic name Jamal, which traces back to the word for "beauty".
• Ximeno: A medieval Spanish name. It is widely interpreted as a variant of Simon, though this derivation is not entirely certain.
• Xing: A name from the Chinese language region. The meaning depends on the specific character used and cannot be pinned down to a single translation in the Latin alphabet.
• Xristos: An alternative transcription of the Greek name Christos. It traces back to the word for "the anointed one".
• Xuan: A name meaning "spring" in the Vietnamese language region. The name also exists in Chinese, where the meaning (as with Xing) depends on the respective character.
• Xylian: The exact origin of this form is unclear. It is often interpreted as a modern variation of Kilian or as a derivation from the Greek word for "wood".
• Xylon: A name from the ancient Greek language region. The underlying word means "wood" or "forest".
• Xystos: A rare ancient Greek name. The word originally referred to a covered colonnade or a polished surface.

Pronunciation and Spelling with an Initial X

Depending on the name's origin, the letter X is pronounced differently. In German, you pronounce the X like "ks" (as in Xaver). If the name comes from the English-speaking world, an initial X is often pronounced like a soft "s" or "z" (as in Xander or Xavier). In Catalan or Basque, the X sounds like "sh" (as in Xavi). In Albanian names that begin with "Xh", you pronounce this letter combination like "j" (as in Xhafer).

If you choose a boy name starting with X, be prepared to occasionally explain the desired pronunciation in everyday life. You should also check the combination with your last name: Because the X is a hard consonant in German, the transition to the last name can sound awkward if it begins with an S, Z, or also with an X (for example, Xaver Simon). It is best to say the full name out loud several times.

How to Choose the Right Name

Since the selection of boy names starting with X is manageable, you can go through the eligible names systematically. In the HeyName app, you can specifically set the filter for the initial letter X. Use the feature to try out the first name directly with your last name and a possible middle name. You can compare up to three favorites side by side right in the app.

When you connect the app to your partner's device via an invitation, you can independently rate names as "Favorite", "Maybe", or "Not a match". Names that you have both marked as a favorite will then appear as mutual matches on your list. This way, you can see right away which names you agree on and discuss this shortlist together.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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