Girl Names Starting with X

International Diversity: First Names with X

• Xana: Short form of Roxana (Persian "dawn") or Susana. In the Asturian language of northern Spain, it is also a term for a mythological nature fairy, which is why a definitive meaning is not established.
• Xandra: Documented short form of Alexandra. The origin is Ancient Greek; the meaning is composed of the words for "to ward off" or "to protect" and "human".
• Xantha: Traced back to the Ancient Greek word "xanthos". The word base reliably means "yellow" or "blond".
• Xanthe: An established variant of Xantha. It likewise carries the Greek meaning "the blond one" or "the yellow-haired one" and is used primarily in the English-speaking world.
• Xanthippe: A Greek name composed of the words "xanthos" (yellow) and "hippos" (horse). Historically, it is documented primarily as the wife of the philosopher Socrates.
• Xara: Often read as an alternative spelling of Sara (Hebrew for "princess") or Zara. Another widespread interpretation sees its origin in the Arabic word for "flower".
• Xavia: The feminine form of Xaver. The derivation traces back to the Basque place name "Etxeberria", which reliably means "new house".
• Xaviera: A longer variant of Xavia, given primarily in the English- and Spanish-speaking world. The Basque meaning "new house" applies here as well.
• Xena: An alternative spelling of Xenia that became more widely known through 1990s pop culture in the English-speaking world.
• Xenia: A name of Greek origin. The underlying word "xenia" is documented to mean "hospitality".
• Xia: A short Chinese first name. The exact meaning depends on the individually chosen characters; a widespread translation in Western sources is "summer" or "dawn".
• Ximena: A traditional Spanish first name. The older word meaning is not definitively clarified. The name is often interpreted as a Spanish variant of Simon (Hebrew "he has heard"); other linguistic theories suspect a Basque origin.
• Xinyi: A frequently chosen name in China. Here as well, the characters used determine the exact meaning. The name is often translated as "joy", "harmony", or "sincerity".
• Xiomara: A Spanish name that likely goes back to the Germanic name Guiomar. An often-cited interpretation is "famous in battle", but the exact derivation remains multi-layered and is not definitively established.
• Xoana: The Galician form of Johanna, which is widespread primarily in northwestern Spain. The name has Hebrew roots and is documented to mean "God is gracious".
• Xochitl: A name originating from the indigenous Nahuatl language in Mexico. The underlying word is documented to mean "flower".
• Xuxa: A Portuguese pet form that has established itself as an independent given name, particularly in Brazil. It is documented as a short form of Susana, which traces back to the Hebrew word for "lily".
• Xylia: A name of Greek origin. The word base "xylon" reliably means "wood" or "forest".
• Xylina: An elaboration of Xylia that occurs primarily in the English-speaking world and possesses the same Greek derivation.

Pronunciation and Spelling: What You Should Keep in Mind in Daily Life

The letter X behaves completely differently in pronunciation depending on the linguistic region. If you decide on a girl name starting with X, you should be prepared to explain the pronunciation occasionally in everyday life.

• In German and Greek: Here, the X is usually pronounced as a clear "Ks", as in Xenia or Xandra. This is familiar to German-speaking ears and rarely leads to misunderstandings.
• In English: At the beginning of a word, the X in English is generally pronounced like a voiced "S" or soft "Z". A name like Xaviera therefore sounds more like "Zaviera" in the English-speaking world.
• In Spanish and Galician: In Spanish names like Ximena or Xiomara, the X is often pronounced as a guttural H sound (similar to the German "ch" in "Dach") or as an "S". In Galician (as in Xoana), the X sounds like a soft "Sh".
• In Chinese (Pinyin): The X in names like Xia or Xinyi is pronounced as a soft "sh" sound, with the tongue resting behind the lower front teeth.
• In Portuguese: Names like Xuxa are pronounced with a distinct "sh" sound ("Shusha").

When making your decision, consider how the name will be read in preschool, in school, or by public authorities. In Germany, a name like Ximena is often mistakenly pronounced with "Ks" at the beginning upon first reading. If that bothers you, a name that is phonetically unambiguous in German (such as Xenia) may be the more pragmatic choice.

How to Find Your Shared Favorite

If you are interested in rare initial letters, you can approach the search systematically. In the HeyName app, you have the option to set the filter specifically to the initial letter "X" or to particular languages.

Browse through the list of names and rate them independently as "Favorite", "Maybe", or "Not a fit". Names that you have both marked as a favorite will then appear as mutual matches in your overview. That way, you immediately see which international rarities you both agree on. Afterward, use the feature to test the first name with your last name—especially with rare letters like X, it is important to check whether the first name flows smoothly into the last name and works well as a combination.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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