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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

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ThatshallotBaby · 09/03/2023 15:00

100% Octavia. I nearly called dd this but was put off by an aunt. It’s beautiful.
Never been a fan of Phoebe.

Findyourneutralspace · 09/03/2023 15:03

I prefer Phoebe but I know two women called Octavia and they are both incredibly cool, so either or for me.

quietnightmare · 09/03/2023 15:05

Phoebe due a comeback nn pheebs, fi, fifi, Bebe, P, pheebo,

Octavia has been ruined Skoda nn oct, octy, occy, tivi, tavia, via

BebbanburgIsMine · 09/03/2023 15:08

Octavia is beautiful, always loved it.

I've never liked Phoebe

SunsetStrip · 09/03/2023 15:09

I have a friend called Octavia, she gets Tavie (pr. Tayvie) much nicer than Phoebe.

SunsetStrip · 09/03/2023 15:11

quietnightmare · 09/03/2023 15:05

Phoebe due a comeback nn pheebs, fi, fifi, Bebe, P, pheebo,

Octavia has been ruined Skoda nn oct, octy, occy, tivi, tavia, via

A come back? It's never gone, has it. My dd has 2 friends called Phoebe, it's pretty popular.

FayCarew · 09/03/2023 15:14

Phoebe has been consistently in the top 50 names for the past 25 yrs

toastofthetown · 09/03/2023 15:15

quietnightmare · 09/03/2023 15:05

Phoebe due a comeback nn pheebs, fi, fifi, Bebe, P, pheebo,

Octavia has been ruined Skoda nn oct, octy, occy, tivi, tavia, via

Phoebe is the 22nd most popular name in England and Wales. It’s already here and has been a top 50 name since 1998!

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 09/03/2023 15:17

Yes, Phoebe has been quietly but consistently popular for a long time. I have been teaching for nearly twenty years and have met at least one new Phoebe every year, occasionally two or three. Anecdotally they have all, to a fault, been absolutely lovely.

mathanxiety · 09/03/2023 15:20

Phoebe by a country mile.

Octavia is a harsh sounding name imo..

Also, neither here nor there, but I live in the US, where it has very different class associations from the British ones.

quietnightmare · 09/03/2023 15:22

@SunsetStrip @FayCarew @toastofthetown

Not in the Uk never met a young Pheobe. Obviously different countries name styles change at different times

PurpleReindeer2 · 09/03/2023 15:23

Phoebe. Don't like Octavia.

BucketHatCrew · 09/03/2023 15:27

Love the name Phoebe.

I don’t like Octavia, too harsh.

barca123 · 09/03/2023 16:29

They’re both lovely

midsomermurderess · 09/03/2023 16:31

Phoebe. Octavia feels a bit, well, stiff.

FayCarew · 09/03/2023 17:12

@quietnightmare , it's been in the top 50 in England and Wales since 1998, as recorded by the ONS. There are thousands of Phoebes registered each year. The darkgreener site gives a graph.

Reddahlias · 09/03/2023 17:58

I'm going to disagree with most but I think Octavia is a beautiful and elegant name that travels well internationally.

I do not like the sound of Feebee at all, sorry

Orangepods · 09/03/2023 18:08

There aren’t thousands of Phoebe’s born each year, at its most popular two thousand. It’s never been in the top 20 either, so you’re not going to come across 100’s. I have three children and don’t know any! Anyway, personally I’d much rather be called Phoebe than Octavia.

Ohyouareawful · 09/03/2023 18:14

Octavia if she is your eighth child (like Jacob Rees-Mogg calling his sixth child Sixtus).

Otherwise, Phoebe.

FayCarew · 09/03/2023 18:21

Two thousand is thousands, and the figures don't include Scotland, or Northern Ireland. I don't know any Sophias under 10 but that doesn't mean there aren't many.

quietnightmare · 09/03/2023 18:48

FayCarew · 09/03/2023 17:12

@quietnightmare , it's been in the top 50 in England and Wales since 1998, as recorded by the ONS. There are thousands of Phoebes registered each year. The darkgreener site gives a graph.

What don't you understand as I stated I am not in the UK

DuvetDownn · 09/03/2023 18:50

They are both lovely.

MyMumsOnMN · 09/03/2023 18:51

Ohyouareawful · 09/03/2023 18:14

Octavia if she is your eighth child (like Jacob Rees-Mogg calling his sixth child Sixtus).

Otherwise, Phoebe.

I just had to Google this and what the fuck🤣 Half the names of his other kids aren't much better either 🤦🏼‍♀️

Roselilly36 · 09/03/2023 18:57

Phoebe rather than Octavia, that name just makes me think of Skoda.

Orangepods · 09/03/2023 19:40

By saying there are ‘thousands’ each year you are exaggerating though. Which I’m sure you know. In the last 4 years it’s been less than 2000, so really not ‘thousands’. @FayCarew