Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Phoebe or Octavia?

99 replies

Ldougal92 · 09/03/2023 09:14

I think these are our final 2 girls names, we are both leaning to separate names (of course!). Phoebe usually gets a better reaction than Octavia, but would be good to hear your opinions x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Smallonesaremorejuicy · 09/03/2023 09:15

Phoebe

Undermyumberellaellaella · 09/03/2023 09:16

Phoebe is better. Octavia sounds like it could be some kind of phone/internet company.

NewtoHolland · 09/03/2023 09:17

Phoebe
Octavia sounds affected

Phos · 09/03/2023 09:19

Phoebe. Lovely name, works for all ages. Gaining popularity but wouldn't let that be a deciding factor, the spread of names these days is so broad, it's not like in the 90s with 3 Amys and Elizabeths in every class.

Octavia sounds like someone trying to sound middle class. And it's a car.

SallyWD · 09/03/2023 09:24

Phoebe. Octavia sounds like a type of Skoda or someone trying to be posh. Love Phoebe.

Orangepods · 09/03/2023 09:33

Definitely Phoebe! I love it anyway but it’s also miles better than Octavia.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 09/03/2023 09:35

Phoebe is great. I don’t like Octavia.

Twizbe · 09/03/2023 09:37

Both pretty good.

Octavia makes me think of Augustus' sister and Mark Anthony's wife.

Pheobe is friends lol

But if you're down to 2, wait until baby is here. One might just fit her better.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 09/03/2023 09:46

Octavia is lovely. Elegant and timeless

Phoebe is lovely for a small child but I don’t think it works for an adult. It also makes me think of phlebotomy.

PMAmostofthetime · 09/03/2023 10:07

Phoebe lovely mane fur a little one and an adult.

tregunamekoidestrecorumsatisdee · 09/03/2023 10:26

Phoebe

MissedItByThisMuch · 09/03/2023 10:32

Octavia - love it. Rarely used but easy to spell/pronounce and with a long history. Not a massive fan of Phoebe, never really liked the sound.

FayCarew · 09/03/2023 10:51

Phoebe. Octavia is long with no obvious diminutive

DemBonesDemBones · 09/03/2023 11:05

Octavia x 1 billion.

OnSilverStars · 09/03/2023 11:08

Love Octavia

moonpixel · 09/03/2023 11:12

Please don't name your child after a common car.

Twizbe · 09/03/2023 11:19

FayCarew · 09/03/2023 10:51

Phoebe. Octavia is long with no obvious diminutive

I went to school with a girl called October and she was always called Occie

Switchwitch · 09/03/2023 11:20

Octavia and pray she wants to go into medicine or so a PhD

PMAmostofthetime · 09/03/2023 11:39

PMAmostofthetime · 09/03/2023 10:07

Phoebe lovely mane fur a little one and an adult.

Apologies for the Typo

Phoebe is a lovely name for a baby, little girl and woman I know two once age 5 one a professional adult suits them both

SneezyEvie · 09/03/2023 11:40

Why not use both, Phoebe Octavia?

Plenty of names that are also names of cars (Elise, Cleo, Zoe, Logan) so I wouldn’t worry about that.

Sugarfree23 · 09/03/2023 11:43

Phoebe by a country mile.

Octavia just makes me think maths. Octopus 🐙 or octave, octagon with 8 sides!

Marblessolveeverything · 09/03/2023 11:56

Octavia is a Skoda car so I wouldn't personally choose it. Phoebe is a lovely name but I always try and apply the "if she was a supreme court judge rule" would it work - not sure.

Cinnamon23 · 09/03/2023 11:58

Phoebe.

evemillbank · 09/03/2023 12:05

Phoebe

EdgeOfACoin · 09/03/2023 12:18

Much prefer Octavia! It's a lovely name.

I really don't understand the popularity of Phoebe. It sounds like 'feeble'.