Octavia

[SookieCookie]

I love, love, love this name and it’s currently sitting at the top of our list but just wondering how you would automatically pronounce it.

We would say Oct-ay-via like the a in hay but I’ve also heard it pronounced Oct-ah-via like the a in tar.

How would you say it?

I would pronounce it the 'classical Roman' way as per the iconic televisual feast I, Clavdivs that saw various mad emperors roaring at female relatives called OctAYvia.

The modern Italian way would be OctAHvia, presumably.

So in UK/English speaking cultural tradition, OctAYvia probably would be the more common pronunciation.

Lovely name, but I think I would feel obliged to have 7 others before I could in all honesty use it...

Or if baby is born on 8 of any month or in August.

It’s also the name of a Skoda car. You may or may not be ok with this.

This. We have an Octavia in our family and the car comments come up a lot (the dad did have an Octavia years before!). Spiderman comments are also brought up a lot. Neither in a negative way, but worth noting.

I think most would pronounce it Oc-tay-via, as in Skoda. While my kids' generation (mid teens) seem to be much less interested in making fun of names than in my school days, I still think you'd be wise to bear that in mind. Though it's an excellent and very reliable car so there are worse namesakes :(

Oc-Tay-via

Good point! That makes me feel better!

She could be the eighth wonder of the world. I love it.

Makes me think of The 100 and the pronunciation you are using is definitely correct. I like it

I would pronounce it Oct-ah-via.
(I am not from the UK, in my home country it is pronounced Oct-ah-via).

It's a beautiful name, but it does make me think of Skoda Octavia, the car.

I'd assume Oct-ay-via unless told differently. And the car wouldn't register, it's a girls name ahead of being a car. Not like say Fiesta which would be a car 1st and probably never a name because nobody would do that but you know what I mean 😂

I know siblings Octavia and Walter. Pronounced Oct Tay via, her nanny calls her “Oc” or “Ocky”

I would pronounce it Oct-ah-via too.

I know an Octavia! Since Taylor Swift her nickname is Tay Tay. One of our mates calls her potato head

It's actually Oct-ah-via when talking about the car, but most people seem to pronounce it the other way.

I'm wondering if @SkaneTos is Czech?

In any case, because of the car, it's not a name I would choose. Likewise there's probably a lot fewer baby Alexas than there were a few years ago.

Sadly I’m another one who would pronounce it incorrectly (Oc-ta-via) and be reminded of the car. When I saw the name I was also thinking it’s the name of a drug? Or weight loss medication or something. I’ll have to google and see what it reminded me off.

But saying all of the above, if I knew a child with that name I’d pronounce it the way the parents intended and associate the name with the child and not anything else.

I’d pronounce it OcTAYvia and agree with posters who say it’s a girls’ name before it’s a car.

Alexa is a little different because it’s more of a phenomenon and more widely used. The car is just a random car really. I don’t know anyone with one. Now people mention it, I think I might have seen a few in carparks on occasion, but it didn’t really register particularly.

However, I might be influenced by the fact I grew up knowing a couple of Octavias so to me it’s a good solid name.

Skoda. Oc-tayvia.

I have one, born 8/8!!
Oc-TAY-veee-ah
Oc-TAH-veee-ah is the Latin pronunciation
It turned to be a fab choice of name for a baby we had no idea what to call if it turned out to be a girl! 29 years on, she's used to the oh what an unusual name comments!

The child Octavia will likely be thrilled to pick up free stuff with her name on. Hey ho always someone around to make a twatty comment

Hey ho always someone around to make a twatty comment Yes, you. @CrotchetyQuaver

Haha I’m not having eight children!

This would be cool if she was born with an 8 in her birthday, but I think I’d still use the name regardless of an 8 connection.

Not bothered by this. Plenty of other names that are also cars. Nobody makes this comment about the Renault Zoe…