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Octavia

♀ Girl

Pronounced ok-TAY-vee-uh /ɒkˈteɪviə/High

Meaning: Eighth; born as the eighth childHigh

In 30 seconds: A stately Roman name meaning 'eighth.' Octavia is the name of emperors' sisters, operatic heroines, and now the next generation of parents who want a name with full Roman authority and cascading, beautiful vowels.
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Origin HighLatin
MeaningEighth; born as the eighth child
U.S. rank (2025)#308 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births982 girls (0.06% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 23,963

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202118802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Octavia is the feminine form of the Roman family name Octavius, derived from the Latin octavus (eighth). Ordinal number names were common in ancient Rome and used when a child was the eighth born, or sometimes as a family name. The most notable bearer is Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus Caesar and wife of Mark Antony.

Octavia was used in the Roman Empire and then passed into operatic tradition (Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, 1643, features an Octavia). In the modern era, Octavia Spencer won Academy Awards bearing the name. It entered the U.S. top 300 for girls in the mid-2020s as parents sought Roman names with genuine imperial sweep.

Did you know? Octavia Minor (c. 69–11 BCE) was the sister of Emperor Augustus and wife of Mark Antony — her dignity in the face of Antony's infidelity with Cleopatra made her one of the most respected women in Rome.
Overall data confidence 98%
Behind the Name — Octavia — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

OttaviaOctavie

Nicknames

TaviTaviaViaAvi

Famous Bearers

  • ★Octavia Minor (c. 69–11 BCE)
    Sister of Emperor Augustus and wife of Mark Antony, celebrated in antiquity for her dignity and virtue.
  • ★Octavia Spencer (1970–present)
    American actress, Academy Award winner for The Help.

If you like Octavia…

Aurelia— Roman feminine name with the same imperial golden grandeur
Cornelia— Roman matron name with the same four-syllable classical authority
Valentina— four-syllable Latin feminine with the same sweeping Roman warmth
Cecilia— Roman saint's name with the same cascading four-syllable classical elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Octavia mean?

Octavia is a Latin name meaning 'eighth,' from octavus (eighth). It was used in ancient Rome for the eighth-born child or as a family name.

How do you pronounce Octavia?

It is said ok-TAY-vee-uh /ɒkˈteɪviə/ — four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Octavia a boy or girl name?

Octavia is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Octavia?

Octavia entered the U.S. top 300 for girls in the mid-2020s and continues to rise.