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Original poster

Cecelia Octavia - middle names

37 replies

Rachelyorkshire9 · 12/11/2021 08:06

So we are set on Cecelia for first name & have been struggling for middle name, we love Octavia, but wondering if it's a problem that they both end in 'ia' sound.. feel like i have looked at the names too much & now can't make sense!

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AuntDympna · 18/11/2021 08:23

Cecilia is pronounced chay- chee -lee-a in most Latin countries.
Cecelia would be read chay- chay -lee-a.
The c would be s, th, ch depending on dialect.

scottishnames · 17/11/2021 18:45

OP Cecilia is a name that goes back over 2000 years. It has been given to many remarkable people, not least a brave martyr, later made by the Christian Church the patron saint of music.

Cecelia is an "unusual" spelling, associated - if Wikipedia is to be believed - with a disgraced Irish politican and his best-selling popular fiction daughter.

Your choice, obviously.

I intend no ill will to either of those. It's just that Cecilia has a longer and (perhaps) more noble/respect-worthy history.

Greendales · 17/11/2021 16:45

We have a Cecily and funnily enough this post came up because I’m googling Octavia for a name for our second! Would you consider Cecily for first name? As others have said - go with what you like and don’t worry, we have Octavia Lena in the mix for family name reasons and I wondered the same thing!

SummeHoliday · 15/11/2021 18:31

Love it. Really pretty.

HeronLanyon · 15/11/2021 18:27

Well now I have Grin

Ellmau · 15/11/2021 18:27

Not sure I’ve ever even seen it spelled Cecelia.

The novelist Cecelia Ahern.

Shasha17 · 15/11/2021 18:18

I too would choose Cecilia Alice Octavia, or choose a different middle name, as Cecilia Octavia is a little much. Both names are very beautiful but together they don´t flow well. If I say it out loud, it sounds like "Cecilia Roctavia". I also feel like with two such big names put together, I almost don´t know which one to focus on and so they both sort of lose their... specialness? I don´t know how to explain that last part very well. Breaking them up with the pretty but more common Alice does seem to solve this problem though.

HeronLanyon · 15/11/2021 11:57

Not sure I’ve ever even seen it spelled Cecelia. Great name. I think octavia middle name doesn’t really matter (no need for flow etc really with middle names) but it is a bit of a mouthful if it does matter. I’d be tempted to go for a one syllable middle name - Anne sprang to mind but beware your surname and that you’re not spelling something unfortunate or rude.

MonsteraDeliciosa · 15/11/2021 11:46

Not keen on Cecelia Octavia, but Cecilia Octavia is quite OK Wink

Ellmau · 13/11/2021 22:16

It’s more usually spelt Cecilia BTW

Yes, but Cecelia is not unknown.

I think Cecelia (or Cecilia) Octavia flows quite nicely. Go for it!

AnnieSnap · 12/11/2021 23:18

I do think it’s a bit OTT, but taste in names varies a lot, so my thinking that shouldn’t influence your decision. I would say though, if your her last name begins with a consonant, be mindful of what the initials would spell.

Luredbyapomegranate · 12/11/2021 22:54

It’s a mouthful to have one after the other, but if you split it up then fine eg Cecilia Mary Octavia

It’s more usually spelt Cecilia BTW

Amberflames · 12/11/2021 20:53

I actually like both names but then I am fond of posh names.

Synchrony · 12/11/2021 20:49

I think it's fine. Use names you love. This is coming from someone who altered her baby's middle name to improve the flow and regrets not using the (similar) name she preferred. Think using "Caroline" instead of "Carolina". Seriously, no-one else cared!

TatianaBis · 12/11/2021 14:23

@GU24Mum

Add Alice into the middle and it will flow much better - Cecilia Alice Octavia....

PS: I prefer Cecilia spelled this way and suspect that's what most people will naturally write.

Yes, agree with both these points.

Cecilia Alice Octavia works really well.

SoftSheen · 12/11/2021 13:58

Cecilia Octavia is rather nice, but please do use the standard spelling. 'Cecelia' just looks weird and your daughter will have a lifetime of having to correct other people's spelling.

minipie · 12/11/2021 13:51

Cecily Octavia
Cecilia Ottilie
Cecilia May Octavia

WhoppingBigBackside · 12/11/2021 13:37

The Cecelia spelling is weird. Cecilia is the standard spelling

Middle names are rarely used but it seems a bit over the top to have two long names
Cicely is nicer than Cecilia

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 12/11/2021 13:32

It's a bit of a mouthful (which is a shame as I love both Cecilia and Octavia - as pp said, they would make great sibling names). However I'm not sure it really matters, as its only occasionally you/she will have to say the full name aloud.

If you aren't sure, I'd be tempted to pick a shorter middle name of 1/2/3 syllables (since Cecilia is 4), depending on how long your surname is - preferably not ending in a/ah/ia for the best flow. Are there any family names you could use?

raintropics · 12/11/2021 12:17

As much as I love Octavia, I don't think it sounds great with Cecelia.

Yourstupidityexhaustsme · 12/11/2021 11:36

Cecelia Olive

Yourstupidityexhaustsme · 12/11/2021 11:35

I’d say with such a bold name like Ophelia you need a shorter name to balance it.

Cecelia Jane
Cecelia Rose
Cecelia Grace
Cecelia Rae
Cecelia Kate

Helpstopthepain · 12/11/2021 11:34

It’s beautiful. I know a lovely Cecilia.

LittleGwyneth · 12/11/2021 11:32

I would put something else between the two, and spell it the traditional way. So Cecilia (eg) Jane Octavia Surname, which flows better.

GU24Mum · 12/11/2021 11:22

Add Alice into the middle and it will flow much better - Cecilia Alice Octavia....

PS: I prefer Cecilia spelled this way and suspect that's what most people will naturally write.

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