This name has been a subject of contention on one of my boards lately. Some love it, some hate it, some think it’s hokey on an eighth child, some would only use it on one, and so on and so forth. I’m torn myself, so let’s check it out
What I like about Octavia is the sturdy sound and classical pedigree. Although the name is quite frilly, the hard ct sound keeps it from being fluffy. I’m not a huge fan of overly frilly names, though (Henrietta notwithstanding), so I feel like Octavia is a little princessy for my tastes. I also like the fact that it’s been in use so long, and is well established.
I do dislike a few things about the name, though. First is that it reminds me of octopi. This guy down below, especially. Does that mean I played too much Pokemon as a kid?
A Pokemon Octopus
Maybe, but it also means that Octavia puts a weird image in my head. Second strike against Octavia is the lack of nicknames. Octie is ugly, Tavia downmarket sounding. Via is probably the most viable, but it’s a little weird. Tavi might work, but it’s too close to Davy, which I hate. My third problem with Octavia is the meaning. 8th child isn’t exactly exciting, and readily apparent from the name itself. I mean, Catherine isn’t any great shakes either, (pure) but it’s still more exciting than “8th.” The only way that the meaning is exciting at all is if the child has anything to do with eights. Being born at 8:08 or 8/8 or being an eighth child. Which brings me to my last issue with the name: it’s just weird if the kid doesn’t have anything to do with eights.
Going into this post, I knew that Octavia was something I’d never use. I can appreciate it, but in the end, it just isn’t for me. I think I like it less than I did going in, though. The cons for me outweigh the pros.
What do you think?
Moniker Madness! 
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Not a fan. Octavia’s too heavy and too harsh for me. I could see it being used, like you, by someone who has a kid born on the 8th, is 8 lbs, 8oz or is the 8th kid in the family but otherwise, nope. It amazes me that Kevin Sorbo has an Octavia girl, younger sister of boys, Braeden & Shane. In that case, the girl got the good name! But that’s the only time I’ve thought, wow, OCtavia, what a great name. Really. It’s got it’s uses, but not for me!
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Yeah, that is surprising that the girl didn’t get the short end of the stick! I mean, I would prefer the boys to have nice names, too, but it is refreshing,
Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I love Octavia! She’s long been a favorite. She’s one of the few non-family names that my husband and I agree on, too.
I’d happily use her for an August-born daughter. Or, sure, baby #8.
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
This seems to be a divider! I’m glad someone likes it, because it is objectively, a great name. Just not for me.
Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
It has a nice sound, but the meaning is the real kicker. I agree that unless circumstances permit, it is to be avoided.
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Yep. How’s Little Cap? I hope alright. *is checking your blog* *has checked your blog* Yay! I’m glad everything is okay. I’m sure you’ll give the little guy a fantastic name, too.
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
she’s feeling very good right now – except the boredom of sitting in bed all day long. She actually is dying to be able to get up and do the dishes. I’m on top of them usually, but she misses being able to do them. The weather just warmed up, so she’s thrilled we can open the windows and get fresh air in. The baby is kicking up – last ultrasound they said he was positioned head down, all was good, appointments weekly right now.
Thanks for your encouragement
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Octavia was my number two for ages. Summer reading for eighth grade was I, Claudius, wherein Octavia Minor kicks everyone’s butt. For ages after that I thought it was the most beautiful name in the world and wrote it everywhere, in all caps. I loved how every letter was symmetrical (all caps and vertically) except the C, which IMO gives Octavia almost all of its amazing character and is also symmetrical horizontally. I just thought it was beautiful. It was one of the first names I identified synesthetically: deep, beautiful blue.
Stern, too. I’ve always loved these stern Roman names. Stern, stoic, a marble statue. I liked the meaning; as a music major now, and being at an orchestra camp when I read I Claudius, 8 has always been a pretty awesome number. Octaves and all that. A perfect square. Symmetrical horizontal and vertical. Wise. Even. Two circles.
And I loved that it reminds people of octopi. In this age of kaydens and avas and isabellas, I loved that it was a name with an ugly connotation. Silly boring comfortable Stepford wives, you will have to say my child’s name and it will have to remind you of an octopus. Take that. Life’s not perfect and my kid’s named better than yours. Ha ha ha. (I also really, really like octopi.)
The main problem with Octavia for me was the nicknames, too. I don’t like any nickname. I played with Tock for a while but it was super contrived. Tavia ruins everything that is beautiful about it. Same with Tavy and Tave, they make it boyish and cute and newfangled. And not only does Via ruin everything beautiful about it, it doesn’t make sense to me. To me the name is more TAVE-ya than tay-vee-a, since “ia” is treated as a dipthong in the romance languages, and almost all nicknames based on the IA at the ends of names bug me a lot. Lia for Rosalia, boo, what a copout.
I ended up shortlisting Octavia Zephyrine nn Ozzie (which is a little gross, but it’s easy for small kids to say, and it’s a family nickname – I think Ozzie for Octavia works even without the middle initial Z) before I kind of fell out of my Octavia phase. I still have warm feelings for her though. Maybe she’ll float back onto the radar once I am, like, reproducing.
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
It’s Tave-ya to me, too, but I was really trying to stretch. I think O works for you since you’re a music major. It falls into the meaningful category, then. Ozzie works for Octavia but it’s so Harriet and Osbourne.
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
…eleventh grade. totally minor detail but one that will bug me. sry about two notificats.