Xanthe

The name Xanthe is brought to you today in honor of a previous article featuring The Very Best X Names for Boys and Girls.

This name is Greek and is derived from ξανθος (xanthos) meaning "golden, yellow" or "fair hair".

While this is a very beautiful name, there can be some annoying pronunciation issues that go along with it. Fortunately, the overwhelming consensus that I've found among typical English speakers is that they pronounce it ZAN-thee. ZAN-tha is another possibility. Some claim that it is pronounced more like ZAN-they or KSAN-thee. If you'd like to read a discussion about it, click here.

For the purposes of this article, I will be assuming the pronunciation ZAN-thee.

Xanthe is a name used twice on the planet Mars. Once for the Xanthe Montes which is a mountain range, and once for a region referred to as Xanthe Terra. Additionally, there is an asteroid called 411 Xanthe. There were also a few minor mythological characters with this name.

Xanthe has only been in use in the US since 1964 however, it is far from common. It has never ranked anywhere close to the US Top 1000.

There have been many years that did not have at least 5 births on record for this name. There's also never been more than 12 females given the name Xanthe in a single year; this happened only once in 2001. As of 2014, there were only 5 girls given this name. It is very uncommon. Even rarer is the name Xanthia which has hardly had any use.

If you are looking for a big, bold, rare name for a girl, Xanthe is a great choice. The trendy X makes this name interesting while the rest of the name offers a unique sound. This name is sure to turn heads. If you're considering it, here are ideas for sibling and middle names:

Sibling Name Ideas: 

Sisters:   Aurelia, Ariadne, Cassia, Clio, Eulalia, Freya, Iris, Octavia, Sybil

Brothers: Augustus, Damian, Everett, Ignatius, Lucian, Tavish, Theron, Vance

Middle Name Ideas:

Xanthe Adeline
Xanthe Elena

Xanthe June
Xanthe Lenore
Xanthe Pearl

Xanthe Viola

As a Middle Name:
Caroline Xanthe
Helena Xanthe
Lydia Xanthe
Olivia Xanthe
Philippa Xanthe
Sophia Xanthe

I played it a bit safe with these pairings since Xanthe is the bolder option. What would you pick as a middle name for Xanthe?

The Very Best X Names for Boys and Girls

We have covered the letter X before on The Art of Naming. We pondered some "Xcellent" underused names for boys and girls.

We also listed out names for boys that contain the letter X, as well as a list for girl names with an X in them.

 This letter typically gives names an edge. They tend to be rather bold and interesting.

Today we'll look at some of the very best names that start with X. I handpicked 25 for each gender for a total of 50 awesome names.

Is X your favorite letter? Are you looking for something unusual, unique and interesting? This list is for you!

Xabrina Xalvadora Xandra Xantara Xanthe Xanthippe Xaria Xavienna Xaviera Xavierre Xena Xenaida Xenia Xenobia Xeraphina Xevera Xeveria Xia Xiamara Ximena Xiomara Xochitl Xola Xolani Xylia

Xachary Xadrian Xaime Xalvador Xan Xanadu Xander Xannon Xanthos Xanthus Xanto Xarles Xavian Xaviell Xavier Xavion Xenon Xenos Xerxes Xhaiden Ximenes Xola Xuan Xylander Xylon

Which name catches your eye? Would you put one of these on your short list? If not, perhaps you'd enjoy exploring one of the other letters. Use the following links for that:

<-- The Very Best W Names for Boys and Girls  |||  The Very Best Y Names for Boys and Girls -->

Xcellent Names for Girls

For parents who are looking for a strong but feminine name, look no further than these! This is a compilation of girl names that contain the letter X.  While this letter is a bit hotter for masculine names, there are still plenty of lovely choices for a girl.

From the traditional Alexandra to the elegant Margeaux and the spunky Roxanna, this list is a treasure trove of amazing gems! What is your favorite feminine name that has the letter X in it?

Aixa                     Alex Alexa Alexana Alexandra Alexandrea Alexandretta Alexandria Alexandrina Alexandrine Alexea Alexi Alexia Alexie Alexina Alexis Alexius Alexus Alexxia Alexys Alexzandria Alix Alixia Alixana Allexis Alyxandria Alyxia Anaxandra Anaxandria Aphixia Arantxa Aranxa Araxie Aurex Auxerre Axelina Axelle Beatrix Bellatrix Bijoux Brinxlee Brinxley Calixta Calyx Cinxia Devereaux Dexlee Dextra Dixie Elexandra Elexia Elexis Elexius Eudoxia Evdoxia Exaviera Exene Exie Fairfax Felixa

Fenix                   Foxglove Galaxia Galaxy Haddix Ixchel Ixia Ixora Jaxyn Jexi Juneaux Laxmi Lennox Lexa Lexi Lexie Lexina Lexine Lexus Lexy Lexzandra Loxley Lumex Lux Luxe Lynnix Lynx Margaux Margeaux Maruxa Max Maxena Maxene Maxie Maxima Maximilienne Maximina Maxina Maxine Moxie Nix Nixie Nyx Olexa Onyx Oxana Pax Paxton Phoenix Pixie Polyxena Polyxeni Rexana Rexanne Rexelle Rixa Roxana Roxane Roxani Roxann

Roxanna Roxanne Roxelana Roxie Roxolana Roxy Sioux Siouxsie Sixtine Texanna Texas Texie Trixie Viatrix Vixen Xabelle Xabrina Xaida Xaiya Xandie Xandra Xandri Xandria Xanthe Xanthea Xanthia Xanthippe Xanti Xasha Xaverie Xavienna Xaviera Xavierre Xena Xenia Xenobia Xevera Xhesika Xhuliana Xia Ximena Xina Xiomara Xiomya Xionara Xochitl Xoe Xoey Xosha Xristina Xuan Xylah Xylia Xylina Xymeria Xyra Xyzah Xzianne Yanixia Zixi

If you liked this list, be sure to take a look at the Xcellent Names for Boys list too!

Xcellent Names for Boys

There is no denying that the letter X is a hot one. As part of a trend that I myself fell prey to with my Maximus Alexander, many parents are finding themselves in love with the X. There is something bold and strong about it but there's also a limited amount of names that contain this letter so it has become somewhat of a sought after gem.

If these kinds of names are up your alley, perhaps you'll enjoy this post!  Here are the very best boy names that contain the coveted letter X. Which is your favorite?

Abrax                       Abraxas Ajax Alex Alexander Alexandre Alexandreus Alexandro Alexandros Alexandru Alexavier Alexei Alexi Alexian Alexios Alexis Alexius Alexzander Alixander Anaxander Anaxandrias Anaxandros Anxo Axel Axton Bax Baxley Baxter Beauxregard Bix Bixby Blixa Braxton Brexton Bronx Buxton Calexto Calix Calixto Calixte Cilix Croix Dax Daxon Daxton Daxter Daxx Delacroix Devereaux Dex Dexter Dixon Drexel Eryx Essex Evreux Exequiel Exton Fairfax                 Felix Felixiano Fenix

Fox                       Foxworth Halifax Helix Hendrix Hixon Huxley Ixidor Jalex Jax Jaxen Jaxon Jaxsen Jaxson Jaxton Jennex Jinx Kalix Kalixto Kendrix Knox Lennox Lex Lexington Lexon Lexus Linux Lynx   Maddox Maddux Mannix Marx Mattox Max Maxavier Maxden Maxen Maxence Maxfield Maxim Maxime Maximilian Maximiliano Maximilien Maximillian Maximino Maximo Maximus Maxon Maxson Maxton Maxwell Nixon Onyx Oxford Oxley Pax Paxtin Paxton Phoenix Plaxico Plaxido

Poindexter Pollux Praxedes Quix Quixley Quixote Raxton Rex Rexford Rixley Roux Roxas Roxbury Roxby Salix Saxon Saxony Saxton Seanix Sextus Sixten Sixto Sixtus Tex Texas Thaxter Theroux Troix Xabat Xabi Xabier Xachary Xadrian Xaime Xalvador Xander Xane Xanthos Xanthus Xarles Xaver Xavi Xavian Xavier Xavion Xayden Xayver Xenon Xenophilius Xenos Xerxes Xiaobo Ximen Ximenez Ximon Xyan Xyler Xylon Xymenes Xzander Xzavier Zaxon

Have you used a name that contains the letter X? Do you have a favorite on your list?  If X isn't your thing, do you have a favorite letter or sound within a name that you're a sucker for? Share your thoughts below!  And don't forget to check out the most Xcellent Names for Girls too!