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Baby names

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Original poster

Is Octavia pretentious?

84 replies

persephoneplum · 07/10/2009 11:31

I have loved this name for a long time now and about 6 months ago, decided if I ever had a girl child, she would be called this.

I've got cold feet now and feel it might be a bit pretentious - and I have no problem with strong names,a lot of my favourites have cropped up in the other 'pretentious' thread - but I am considering if it would affect a child adversely.

Freya is my second choice and despite its extreme popularity in Britain, it doesn't even crack top 1200 in my state of Australia. Do you think this might be a better choice in terms of how a name affects a person?

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natfrank · 07/10/2009 14:49

love it I would def use it

leftangle · 07/10/2009 14:46

Only for number 8 imho

Fennel · 07/10/2009 14:46

I like it (I have a weakness for possibly pretentious names).

I hadn't heard of the car nor the Jilly Cooper connection.

I knew one who was the 8th child.

hullygully · 07/10/2009 14:44

Sallright if you is posh.

ILikeToQuickstepItTangoIt · 07/10/2009 14:42

I really like it.

If I ever had 8 children (it aint ever gonna happen btw!) I would call the eigth Octavia - if she were to be a girl of course!

mrssammyo · 07/10/2009 14:40

Great name....

mints · 07/10/2009 14:27

Personally i don't really like it. Kids might make fun of her name and call her "octopus" instead..you know how kids are like...

Cortina · 07/10/2009 14:09

I used to love it but have gone off since I've heard it being screamed in shopping centres. Well actually only once but it was enough! Not a name you'd have that association with either!

I considered it and friends put me off again when they said it would be shortened to 'Occy' as in darts.

That said I am all for being bold, I was in my final choices and haven't lived to regret it for one moment!

Sidge · 07/10/2009 13:50

I love the name Octavia. It was on my secret list for DD3 but DH said no.

I have heard it being shortened to Tavey.

KembleTwins · 07/10/2009 13:29

I like it. I know what you mean though. I really wanted to call my daughter Ophelia, but was put off by thinking it would be pretentious. She ended up having it as her middle name, but I still wish I'd been a bit bolder and just gone for it!

ChilloHippi · 07/10/2009 13:28

Yes it is pretentious.

jasper · 07/10/2009 13:23

Yes it is but it is also lovely

Kwini · 07/10/2009 13:13

Go for it if you love it! Octavia is a Latin name - it was around for thousands of years before the car came along, and it will be around for a long time after we stop using cars altogether!

Similarly, if people think that a child called Clio was named after a car, their ignorance is their problem, frankly! She'll always be the muse of history to me

Thissideofchannel · 07/10/2009 13:09

I love Octavia! And the car certainly won't be around in another 5-10 years anyway.

I don't really like Freya at all.

Should also add that I don't get the whole 'pretentious' issue either, perhaps because I'm not British .

aarghhelp · 07/10/2009 12:59

Best if you have another 7 little plums I think!

JulesJules · 07/10/2009 12:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

GrendelsMum · 07/10/2009 12:50

If anyone comments on the car, you can just raise a (posh) eyebrow and say 'a type of car? I don't remember a Bentley Octavia. Is it new?'

I think it's a lovely name, and I think the car will be gone before too long. The only Octavia I knew of was called Twiggy for short!

womma · 07/10/2009 12:50

Freya, on the other hand is just awful

largeginandtonic · 07/10/2009 12:25

Oh i love Jilly Cooper

Tidey · 07/10/2009 12:22

The car would not enter my head hearing the name. My first thought was the Jilly Cooper book

Original poster
persephoneplum · 07/10/2009 12:20

I agree largeginandtonic. The car issue is a total non-issue for me, especially seeing as we don't even see Skodas on the road here.

Now an eighth baby certainly calls for one of those fantastic names!

OP posts:
largeginandtonic · 07/10/2009 12:13

I love it

If i have another baby (would be #8) the Octavia/Octavius is top of the list.

No one will remember the car in years to come.

RnB · 07/10/2009 12:11

I like it - but the car does ruin it imho. Would be on my list otherwise

MmeGoblindt · 07/10/2009 12:09

I would have liked it if I had not heard of the car. Fab car btw.

Freya is lovely, I actually prefer it.

womma · 07/10/2009 12:08

Octavia is a nice name - it's my friend's name, although it is shortened to Tave.

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