How to say it
oc · TA · vi · a
ɒkˈteɪ.vi.ə
Feminine
Octavia
Eighth
What it means
Latin feminine of Octavius, 'eighth,' a Roman family name once given to an eighth child.
Octavia is the feminine of the Roman name Octavius, from octavus, 'eighth,' the kind of number-name Romans gave to a later child. Octavia the Younger, sister of the emperor Augustus, wore it with dignity. It faded for centuries and is now part of the antique-Latin revival next to Aurelia and Cecilia, with a modern champion in the science-fiction great Octavia Butler. Tavi and Via make easy shorts.
How to spell Octavia
The standard spelling is Octavia. Common variants include Octavie, Ottavia, but Octavia is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #247 in 2022, currently #308 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Tavi and Via both work as shorts.
Who's worn it
- Octavia Butler pioneering American science-fiction author
- Octavia the Younger sister of the Roman emperor Augustus
Spelling variants
- Octavie
- Ottavia
Names with the same feeling
See Octavia from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Octavia mean?
- Latin feminine of Octavius, 'eighth,' a Roman family name once given to an eighth child.
- What does Octavia mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Octavia means "Eighth." Octavia is the feminine of the Roman name Octavius, from octavus, 'eighth,' the kind of number-name Romans gave to a later child. Octavia the Younger, sister of the emperor Augustus, wore it with dignity. It faded for centuries and is now part of the antique-Latin revival next to Aurelia and Cecilia, with a modern champion in the science-fiction great Octavia Butler. Tavi and Via make easy shorts.
- How do you pronounce Octavia?
- Octavia is pronounced ɒkˈteɪ.vi.ə. Say it as oc-TA-vi-a, with the stress on the "ta" syllable.
- How do you spell Octavia?
- The standard spelling is Octavia. Common spelling variants include Octavie, Ottavia.
- Is Octavia a boy or girl name?
- Octavia is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Octavia?
- Octavia ranked #308 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.