Is the official name Xàbia or Jávea? Why do so many towns in València have two names? In this article, I’ll talk about this confusing topic and provide the best resource so you’ll always know which name to stick to! 

The Two Names of Valencian Towns

For travelers, one of the most confusing things to deal with is the bilingual names you’ll find. Sometimes you’ll see the same town being called two different names. And there are a lot of historical, linguistic, and political reasons for that. 

In other words – some people refer to towns by their name in Valencian, but you’ll also see them written in the Spanish translation of the name. 

And not only is this a bit of a contentious topic for locals, it’s also confusing for travelers that don’t speak either language. 

So let’s talk a bit about why this problem exists – and then I’ll show you how to always know what to call each town. 

➡️ Skip to this section to learn which name to use

Connection to the Dictatorship

Even though Valencian was the primary language used throughout the territory for since the 13th century – the Spanish Dictatorship left a big impact on the language. 

An impact that is still very much visible today. 

In fact, Valencian was banned during the 40-year dictatorship. Which means that towns with Valencian names were forced to adopt a Spanish translation. 

• Xàtiva became Játiva
• Benicàssim became Benicasim 
• Torís became Turís 
• Xàbia became Jávea 

Even though Valencia transitioned back into democracy in the 70s, some of these dictatorship names still remain prevalent, despite not having any historical relevance. Which leads us to the next point:

Language Politics

The two names of Valencian towns are a great way to understand how language often plays a role in politics. 

Some towns have maintained the Spanish translation for their names due to the after-effects of the war and dictatorship on public opinion. 

So while this is a fairly complicated topic that most tourists don’t need to go so deep into, please be aware the language you choose to use can make an impact. 

What are the official names?

The official names are decided by the City Hall, following a historical/linguistic study that is created by the Acadèmia de la Llengua Valenciana. 

You can find the official names of any town here. 

However, just because it’s the politically official name, that doesn’t mean it’s always the word locals use. 

What do locals prefer?

As I mentioned, politics plays a role in what the official names are. 

Because even if a respected group of linguists and historians recommend using one name … well, politicians will do what they want, at the end of the day. 

One well-known example of this is in the town of Xàbia. The Spanish translation is also an official name, even though the locals disapprove. 

(In fact, you’ll find lots of street signs with the Spanish name crossed out in protest)

But considering over half of the population is retirees from England, The Netherlands, and Germany … well, the local opinion unfortunately gets overridden. 

So again – as a traveler, this makes things all the more complicated!

How to know which name to use?

So, when the political situation is complicated, and you just want to know what to type into Google Maps … what should you do?

I recommend always sticking to the historical name. 

For example, Xàtiva has been a Valencian-speaking city called Xàtiva since 1347. And it was only called Játiva for about 40 years. 

But on the flip side, there are also cities that are historically Spanish-speaking. This is especially common the further inland you go. 

So if you check this resource, and the town is a historically/predominantly Valencian-speaking, then use that name. And vice versa. 

The locals will appreciate you for it. 

Valencian Travel Resources

This guide to Valencian town names is just meant to help you be a more conscientious traveler. 

After all, your actions while traveling also affects the locals! So be sure to be respectful and do just a quick bit of research. 

If you have questions, just reach out!

And if you want some more help planning your trip, here are some suggestions:

• Valencian travel phrases
• Top 10 day trips from Valencia
• Common foods in Valencia 
• How to get from Madrid to Valencia
• How to get from Barcelona to Valencia
• Fun facts about Valencia

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