Xavi

Xavi is a Catalan short form of Xavier, which derives from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning new house. The name gained widespread use through Saint Francis Xavier, the sixteenth-century Navarrese missionary and co-founder of the Jesuit order. In modern times, Xavi is strongly associated with the Spanish footballer Xavi Hernández, a native Catalan speaker, which has helped the short form gain recognition as an independent given name. Related forms include Xavier, Javier, and Saverio.