National Javier Day - Celebrate National Javier Day to find out the meaning and origin of this Spanish name.

National Javier Day 2024 – April 21, 2024

National Javier Day is celebrated on April 21 every year. ‘Javier’ is the Spanish version of the name ‘Xavier,’ which is a common choice for masculine names in Mexico, Spain, and neighboring areas. This name is associated with a Navarrese Jesuit priest who was born in a place named Xavier and co-founded the Society of Jesus. Footballers Javier Mascherano and Javier Hernandez share this name, along with Spanish actor and producer Javier Bardem. Javier Baez is a well-known Puerto Rican baseball player, and Javier-Ortega Smith Molina is a prominent Spanish lawyer and politician. This name has several variations across Europe and Latin America.

History of National Javier Day

The name Javier originates from Saint Francis de Xavier, wherein the term ‘Xavier’ is a reference to the saint’s birthplace. Saint Xavier was a Jesuit priest and missionary from the Kingdom of Navarre. When he was canonized, numerous people and places were named after him, particularly in Spain, Latin America, and Equatorial Guinea. Today, Javier is still a popular baby boy name in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries.Spanish actor and producer Bardem, who appeared in films like “No Country For Old Men,” “Skyfall,” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” is one of the most recognizable bearers of this name. The son of an actress mother and a rancher father, Bardem initially strived to be a painter. To support his painting, he took up small acting jobs but eventually abandoned this career. The 2000 film “Before Night Falls,” was his big breakthrough that ended his career struggle.Footballer, Mascherano, is a well-known figure in the world of sports. Despite his small stature, he was known for his aggressive and effective defense. The Argentinian soccer coach and former professional footballer earned the nickname ‘El Jefecito’ or ‘little chief’ because of his versatile, intelligent, and tactical style of football. Hernandez of Mexico is one of the few Mexican soccer players to score a goal against a French keeper in the World Cup.

National Javier Day timeline

1622
Pope Canonizes Xavier

Pope Gregory XV canonizes Xavier on March 12.

2000
Bardem Receives His Big Break

Bardem gets his big break in the American biographical drama, “Before Night Falls,” receiving praise from his idol, actor Al Pacino.

2010
Footballer Enters the Big League

Hernandez, the famous Mexican footballer, signs a contract with Manchester United on April 8 and becomes a part of the big league.

2020
Javier Announces Retirement

Mascherano retires from professional soccer at the age of 36.

National Javier Day FAQs

Is Javier a French name?

Javier is the Spanish version of the French name Xavier.

Is Javier a good name?

Javier is one of the most popular Spanish boy’s names in America today.

What does Javier mean?

The word Javier means ‘castle’ or ‘new house.’

National Javier Day Activities

  1. Read about Saint Xavier

    Saint Xavier is considered one of the most significant apostles after Paul and did a lot of missionary work in Asia and Portugal. He was born into a noble family and gained prominence as an athlete and a high jumper in his youth. Read about his fascinating life on this day.

  2. Watch a Bardem movie

    One of Bardem’s best movies is “No Country For Old Men.” It’s an old Western-style film about a big case rocking a small town. Bardem is the first and only Spanish actor to have received an Academy Award nomination and to have received the award for Best Supporting Actor for "No Country for Old Men" in 2008.

  3. Learn about the Kingdom of Navarre

    Xavier was a town in the Kingdom of Navarre and the seat of Navarre’s civilization. It was where Saint Xavier was born; he died on Shangchuan Island, China. The region formerly known as Navarre is now shared by Spain and France.

5 Interesting Facts About Javiers

  1. A family of filmmakers

    Bardem comes from a family of renowned actors and filmmakers; his grandparents were actors, while his uncle was a screenwriter and director.

  2. Fastest player according to F.I.F.A.

    According to F.I.F.A., Hernandez of Mexico was ranked as the fastest player in the 2010 World Cup, clocking 19.97 mph.

  3. Real world inspiration

    Professor Charles Xavier and the X-Men are based on the Civil Rights movement in America.

  4. Two gold medals

    Mascherano is the second Argentine sportsman to have won two Olympic gold medals, in Athens and Beijing.

  5. Working for rivals

    Javier Rodriguez is the only Spanish comic book artist to have worked for both Marvel and D.C.

Why We Love National Javier Day

  1. We love the accent

    The name Javier has an oddly attractive appeal to it just like many other Spanish names; it is very musical and sounds sweet to the ears. Every version of this name is equally agreeable.

  2. It has an interesting history

    Javier dates back to the 16th century. This name has a rich and interesting history, from originating from a saint to its multiple spellings, pronunciations, and variations across the countries, making it intriguing!

  3. It is beautiful and unique

    Even in Spanish-speaking countries, Javier is unique as a masculine name. This name has a feminine version as well, which is Xaviera, which is a popular feminine name.

National Javier Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 April 21 Friday
2024 April 21 Sunday
2025 April 21 Monday
2026 April 21 Tuesday
2027 April 21 Wednesday