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Surprisingly...I like it. Not something I'd name a child but more of a guilty pleasure name. It's not something you hear everyday without it sounded TOO out there. Its vdry nice and rare and beautiful. Octavia is actually on my list lol

I like Octavia. It's very rich and sharp and pointy, in a good way. Nicknames could be Tavi, Tavia? Tavia is a bit long for a nickname, maybe. Tay?

I don't really like Octavia. It brings up the image of an octopus - something like Ursula from the Little Mermaid. I think I could like it otherwise.

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Vie or Via for a nickname?

Octavia is a little over-the-top but not unusable. I would give kudos to the parents for being gutsy. I think an Octavia would end up owning her name and loving it. At least, I hope so.

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I could see these as nicknames:
Ottie (how cute!)
Tavia
Tavi
Tav ("tayv")
Via ("vee-ah")
Vi ("vee"
Tay
O
O-vee (YES!!)
Ovia
Avia
Avi

This message was edited 8/9/2014, 10:53 AM

I love Octavia, and yes, I think it's usable. I used to work with an Octavia. But even before I'd read the body of your message, I was thinking about its lack of nickname potential and was going to mention that as a possible negative. Usually I'm one to say that for long names, nicknames, or perhaps not nicknames per se, but "shortenings" such as Oct, are inevitable. But the Octavia that I worked with was always called Octavia, as far as I ever heard. So I'm not sure about this one.

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Using it as a middle name for a child born on the eighth day or in the eighth month is a cute idea. I think Princess Beatrice of York should have been given Octavia for one her names, since she was born on 8/8/88.

Are you watching Rome?? :D

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I love Octavia. I think it's usable no matter when a child might be born - Octavia is an exotic yet still classical name to me. And I think England would be a perfectly reasonable country to use it in! After all, they have history of Neoclassical admiration.

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I agree that Octie is awkward. What about Tavia, or Tavi/Tavy/Tavie?

I love Octavia; she has a very distinct, Roman elegance about her. I live in England, and I definitely find it usable as a first name, though I also think it would make a fabulous, unexpected middle name. Avia, Avie and Ava would all make sweet, down to earth nicknames.

I adore Octavia! It's lusciously grand. My cashier at Whole Foods last night was named Octavia, though her enthusiasm didn't match mine when I vocalized my love.

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I definitely think it's usable, especially because the nickname Tavi / Tavie is readily available.

I find it a tad much. It gives me a Medusa-like feeling.

I think Octavia's great and usable in the UK (though I wouldn't be the best authority). I don't think a newborn Octavia needs to have her birthday related to the 8th any more than a little August needs to be born in August or a little Thomas needs to be a twin.

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Nicknames:

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Tacy (like Stacy without the 'S,' I'm not sure if you ever read the Besty-Tacy children books, but she's a great character)

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Cate

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Tia

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Via

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Otti (said like Audi)

This message was edited 8/9/2014, 5:10 AM

I definitely think Octavia is usable in England. One of my childhood friends was called Octavia, she had no issues/confusion/furrowed brows with her name - and this was in a small town on the Welsh border. She mostly went by her full name but she'd occasionally be called Tavy.

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So yes, thumbs up for Octavia!

What about Tavie or Tavia for a nn. Octavia Spencer helps make the name more usable, too. I like it, but I probably wouldn't wait for a kid who happens to be born on the eighth, or is the eighth cousin, or anything to do with the number 8 if I was going to use it.

I like it and what about nn Tavi, Tavia, Tai, Taia, Avi, Ava or Avia?