Exciting X Names

X marks the spot in names these days, usually at the middles or ends of names, but here is one that puts it squarely up front.

Famous as the long-suffering wife of the philosopher Socrates.

This alternate name for Apollo has a noble sound and can always be shortened to Xan.

Xavier originated is use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. His birthplace was Javier, the name of which was derived from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning "castle" or "new house."

Xaviera is one of the most intriguing and rarest female forms of a male name. Only a handful of baby girls are named Xaviera in the US each year, compared with nearly 3500 baby boys named Xavier.

Still projects the potent allure of television's warrior princess.

The name of a Christian saint and a city in Ohio, Xenia is one of the more accessible and intriguing x names. It is the name of one of the Bond Girls--played by Famke Janssen in the film "GoldenEye."

As long as nobody connects it with xenophobia -- the fear of strangers and the unknown.

One of the more accessible X names, though Xeno or Zeno might sound more modern.

The two X's may be a challenge for even the most intrepid baby namer. Xerxes was the name of two early kings of Persia and the Handel opera Serse or Xerxes is loosely based on Xerxes I.

The J spelling -- both are pronounced as if they started with H -- is more common, but the X has more flair.

This name of the capital of an ancient Egyptian dynasty makes Lois X-rated.

Sounds like the name of a new synthetic fabric.

Name of the imaginary Queen of Ix created by L. Frank Baum for one of his Oz books.