Although they are not common in Brazil, names with the letter X are also successful
There aren’t many words that start with the letter X in Portuguese. But when it comes to names, Brazilians do what they do best: they borrow elements from other cultures and transform them into something new.
Suggestions come from everywhere: family, friends, books, programs you’ve seen on TV at some point. Variety allows you to find names that deviate from ethnic and cultural standards, but with possible adaptations to the Brazilian style.
Female names that start with X
Xenia: It comes from the Greek “Xenia”, which in a more direct translation would be “ritualized friendship”, but also means “hospitable” or “welcoming”. The Brazilian singer Xênia França is one of the exponents of this beautiful name. Or, if you prefer, there is also the variant Xena, from the famous series of warrior princesses presented in the 90s.
Xiomara: A feminine variant of “Guiomar” in Spanish, the name has Germanic origins and means something like “strong and ready for battle.” It is also the name of the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro.
Ximena: Also very present in Latin-speaking countries, it is an adaptation of the Hebrew “Shim’on”, which in Portuguese becomes Simão. Both the original name and the adaptation mean “listener” or “she who listens”.
Xochitl (Soutí): Originating in Nahuatl, an indigenous language of Mexico and Central America, the name Xochitl means “flower” or “precious flower,” symbolizing life, renewal, and fertility.
Scheherazade: It is a variant of the Persian Shahrzad, meaning “she who was born in the city” and also “daughter of the night”. The name became popular thanks to Queen Scheherazade, a character whose stories she tells One Thousand and One Nights.
Xara or Xaria: Originally from Hebrew, it has the same meaning as Sarah. All variations refer to “princess” or “maiden”.
Male names starting with X
Saverio: Of Basque origins, Xavier comes from the term “Etxeberria”, which means something like “new home”. This is a special case for Brazilians, since Xavier was adopted as a surname here too.
Xander or Xande: It is an abbreviation with Greek origins from Alexander or Alexander. It means “defender of the people” or “protector of men”.
Xico: It is the alternative abbreviation of Chico, Francisco’s nickname. The name comes from the Latin Francisdesignation of the French people, although it can also mean “free man”.
Xuan: This name has several meanings depending on its origin. If it comes from the Chinese version, it means “mysterious” or “to reveal something”. Originally Vietnamese, it is a female name that means “spring”.
Shale: It derives from ancient European languages. From Greek xystos, means “polite”, “educated” and “respectful”. In Latin it would come from sixth, sixtus OR shale, used to designate the sixth child of the family.
Shaman: The term derives from an ancient Indian dialect and means “to set oneself on fire” or Sram. It also refers to the practitioner of shamanism and has been adopted in Brazil to mean a spiritual leader or healer. For the indigenous people, the shaman is “he who practices magic” and is “inspired by spirits”.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
