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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Octavia, Etta, Ophelia or Olive

80 replies

ShakesP123 · 29/12/2023 19:19

Which do you prefer and why? Sibling for Rafferty.

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Moretoit · 01/01/2024 23:34

Agree with poster above. These names are so pretentious. You must be from SW London!

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 01/01/2024 23:24

Pead Ophelia….. just no

lavagal · 01/01/2024 23:14

All of those are so popular at the moment so expect for the choice to not be too unique !!

SleepingStandingUp · 01/01/2024 23:14

Ooh Rafferty and Ophelia 🥰
Ooh Rafferty and Octavia 🥰🥰
Not Etta, it's nice as a nn but doesn't stand up to Rafferty.
Olive is just bleurgh.

ActuallyChristmas · 01/01/2024 23:06

theduchessofspork · 29/12/2023 22:35

… you know it was a name before a car right?

Show quote history

In the early 2000s we had a computer system demo done by someone who mentioned his daughter was called Fabia. I thought it was a beautiful name, but by the time I had a baby it was the name of a car and not common enough as a girls name to feel like everyone wouldn’t snigger. Octavia is more mainstream, but we knew an Octavia and her parents named her that because she was the 8th grandchild on her mother’s side. It was suck up to a famous grandfather (sort of). They also called her Tavi which wasn’t a great shortening.

fizzyred · 01/01/2024 23:04

I absolutely love these names except Ophelia, which is ok.

Love Raffy & Tavie as NNs for Rafferty and Octavia.

di2004 · 01/01/2024 23:01

Etta - it's beautiful and also happens to be my little granddaughter's name (she's nearly 3 bless her).

Kitty and Ivy are lovely names too x

Original poster
ShakesP123 · 01/01/2024 22:57

So was what happened to Juliet in Romeo & Juliet , and Emilia in Othello, and Cordelia in king Lear. Not to mention King Edward (2nd) and William the conqueror.

Go looking and you’ll find tragic links to most names.

OP posts:
Evenmoretired44 · 01/01/2024 18:48

Not Ophelia. What happens to her in Hamlet is horrible.

avocadotofu · 01/01/2024 18:04

I really like Octavia.

blackpanth · 01/01/2024 18:04

Octavia

Original poster
ShakesP123 · 01/01/2024 18:00

No, it fits with the vowel-ly pretty vibe I’m after but I don’t for some reason.

OP posts:
RuthW · 01/01/2024 17:59

Octavia.

Etta sounds like a nickname.

Ophelia and Olive are too popular.

Brexile · 01/01/2024 12:25

I love Octavia, always have done.

gocompare · 31/12/2023 18:10

Do you like Aurelia?

AndThatWasNY · 31/12/2023 13:53

Personally I would absolutely hate to be called Octavia. It's very pretentious. Ophelia is beautiful but not with the same prejudices.Olive is fine but over used and Etta is lovely.

Octavia64 · 31/12/2023 13:49

Octavia is a lovely name.....

Floppyelf · 31/12/2023 13:48

Octavia always reminds me of Octavia Spencer. A wise woman living rolemodel to look up to… can’t go wrong there.

AuntDilemma · 31/12/2023 13:46

Second @RosaSkyes - Odette is a great name to consider! (though obviously tragic ballet ending to think through, unless you're Russian... just like Ophelia, another sticky end!!)

I knew an Odette at college, she was lovely!

Honestly OP glad you are taking the unpopularity well, once you name your little one nobody will say anything other than how fab the name even if they think otherwise, so you're quite safe really!

RosaSkyes · 30/12/2023 18:33

I actually like all… I think Octavia is the most refreshingly underused though

looking at your list, i’d suggest-

Odette

gives you the Ettie nickname, and Rafferty & Odette sounds gorgeous

LondonGrey · 30/12/2023 18:17

I wouldn’t be too disheartened with your choices, honestly take it as a compliment that people are being harsh ….all the names I like MN hate

defi · 30/12/2023 17:32

defi Montserrat as in the island? Holds fond memories if so which makes me like Ophelia more!

^ yes but often spelt as erphelia. Very common name there

Rockrobon · 30/12/2023 14:16

ShakesP123 · 30/12/2023 09:33

My choices are obviously not well received! Fine with me though, i don’t want a snoozy name…e.g., a twenty millionth Olivia.

Surprised that Ophelia is considered pretentious though. If anything I was concerned that the upturn in popularity would make it a new Darcey/Tracy.

I think Ophelia is the new Tracy type name yes

user1492757084 · 30/12/2023 13:53

Rafferty and Phoebe
Rafferty and Mietta
Rafferty and Octavia

inquisitiveinga · 30/12/2023 13:50

All men will just think abiut the Skoda model "Octavia", but if that doesn't bother you then that's OK!

Personally I love either Ophelia or Olive