Baby Names Starting With X: Popular, Unique & Trending in 2026
Baby Names Starting With X: Popular, Unique & Trending in 2026
X is one of the rarest starting letters in baby naming — just 223 names — but the names it does have are genuinely striking. X names come from wildly different traditions: Basque (Xavier), Nahuatl Aztec (Xochitl), Greek (Xander, Xanthe), and Zulu (Xolani). If you want your child to have a name that stands completely apart, X delivers that without compromise.
Most Popular X Names in 2026
The top X names right now:
Xavier — Basque, meaning “new house, bright, splendid.” Xavier is the most successful X name by far — it crossed into mainstream American usage and has stayed there. Zayvier and Xzavier are creative variants, but the original is hard to beat.
Ximena — Spanish/Basque, feminine form of Simón/Jimeno. Ximena is hugely popular in Latin America and growing fast in the US — it’s one of the most distinctive X names with strong cross-cultural appeal.
Xander — Greek, short form of Alexander meaning “defender of the people.” Xander is the edgier, more contemporary short form of Alexander — it stands fully on its own now.
Xiomara — Germanic/Spanish, meaning “famous in battle, great in glory.” Xiomara is dramatic and beautiful — a name that sounds like it belongs to a protagonist, which it often does.
Xyla — Greek origin, from xylon meaning “of the forest, wood.” Xyla is a rare, nature-rooted name with a clean, modern sound — short and entirely distinctive.
Xochitl — Nahuatl (Aztec), meaning “flower.” Xochitl (pronounced approximately “so-CHEEL”) is a deeply beautiful Aztec name — it carries Mesoamerican heritage and is widely used in Mexico and among Mexican-American families.
Xolani — Zulu, meaning “peace.” Xolani is a South African Zulu name with a beautiful meaning — one of the few X names from an African tradition, and a powerful one.
Xzavier — Basque origin, creative variant of Xavier. A more distinctive spelling for parents who want their Xavier to be unmistakable on paper as well as in person.
Xavi — Spanish/Catalan, short form of Xavier. Xavi is the Catalan/Spanish nickname for Xavier — popularized globally by FC Barcelona’s legendary midfielder Xavi Hernández.
Xena — Greek, meaning “hospitable, welcoming.” Xena is the warrior princess name that became a cultural touchstone — strong, feminine, and impossible to confuse with anything else.
Unique X Names Worth Discovering
Rare X names with global roots:
Xaviar — Basque origin, variant of Xavier. A rare spelling variant — if you love Xavier but want something even more distinctive, Xaviar does it.
Xochil — Nahuatl origin, meaning “flower.” A variant spelling of Xochitl — slightly simpler phonetically, equally beautiful in meaning.
Xzavior — Basque origin, creative modern variant of Xavier. Maximum distinctiveness for the Xavier name family — bold and entirely unique.
Xanthe — Greek, meaning “golden, yellow in color, radiant and bright.” Xanthe is a genuine ancient Greek name — it was used in classical antiquity and is rare enough today to feel entirely fresh.
Xitlalic — Nahuatl origin, meaning “starlike, she who shines like a star.” A Nahuatl name from the Aztec tradition — deeply rooted in Mexican indigenous culture and extremely rare outside that community.
X Names by Gender
There are 92 boy names and 126 girl names starting with X, with 5 unisex options. X actually skews slightly feminine — Ximena and Xiomara contribute significant weight on the girl side.
Cultural Diversity of X Names
X is the most globally diverse letter in baby naming. Basque names (Xavier) come from one of Europe’s oldest languages. Nahuatl/Aztec names (Xochitl, Xochil, Xitlalic) carry Mesoamerican heritage. Greek names (Xander, Xanthe, Xena) bring classical antiquity. Zulu names (Xolani) represent South African tradition. Chinese names (some X-names transliterate from Mandarin). No other letter covers such geographic breadth.
Browse All X Names
Ready to explore all 223 names starting with X?
bnn-editorial
Baby Names Network contributor