Octavia vs Emerald

[rejectedprincess]

I can’t decide between these two names for baby daughter. I love them both but my issue with Octavia is I don’t like any of the shortenings. Help me choose!

Emerald definitely
Octavia is a bit pretentious

Have you thought about Vaia (Vay- ah) as a shortening for Octavia? - I know Taia (Tay-ah) is used more commonly but I think the V sound makes it a bit more interesting.

I don’t dislike Emerald but the nickname Em/Emmy is quite popular if that matters (because of Emma/Emily/Emilia/Emmeline) and I must admit I like the elegant sound of Octavia ( and to be honest any car comments just make me think that people are uneducated - I even drive a Skoda Octavia so I’m hardly posh/pretentious but it really wouldn’t be my first reference, Roman history or Shakespeare would be).

Octavia is generally pronounced Ock-TAY-Vee-a, though. I’ve encountered a handful in different countries and have never met anyone who pronounced it Ock-TAY-veye-a with ‘veye’ rhyming with ‘eye’. The one I know best went by the nickname Vee.

My great grandma was Octavia, because she was the eighth child. I find it weird to call a child Octavia if they're #3. I don't like Emerald.

How about another gem name? Garnet? Lulu (Arabic for pearl)? Amethyst (Ami, for short)? Artisanal Glass? Calcareous Concretions?

I would go off nicknames you like because both are going to be shortened. I prefer the options for Octavia.

Octavia- Tavia, Ottie, Vivi, Tavie, via

Emerald -Em or Emmi, meri

DH's granny was Octavia. Went by Bunty. I think it's a big name to live up to.

Thalia? Thisbe? Thirza?

This. You’re setting them up for a life of teasing at best, bullying at worst. Emerald would probably need to be one of those names where it’s only seen on the birth certificate and you call them em/emmie/emer(and people assume you’re saying Emma)

sorry to be harsh.

Octavia is a Jilly Copper heroine ;-) although I agree Tavi is a cute nn. Ocky is not.
Emerald is interesting (only know of the director) and is nicer than Ruby/Sapphire/Amber/Jade.

Aurelia?
Lydia?

Congratulations! I'm not keen on either, Octavia makes me think haughty/long neck/ostrich (watched Pipkins as a child) and Emerald feels big and clunky. To me, neither of them are pleasant sounds.

What about...
Seraphina
Viola
Tabitha
Ursula
Vivienne
Freda

Classical names are not chav names, ever. Not even Jason. :)

I love Octavia.

Most of the name suggestions on this thread are a bit bonkers, in my pretty useless opinion. Some very 19th century novel..

@UnsocialMedia if you know what Pipkins is/was, then you've got to the age when (rightly or wrongly) nobody having babies cares what you think about baby names. People of childbearing age care what their peers and kids' peers are likely to think, not people 55+ who think that any name that isn't Louise or Emma (etc.) is "weird" and stigmatizing - not you necessarily, as you've made some nice unusual suggestions.

Octavia is a timeless and dignified name - it's not like the baby is being called Bagpuss or Womble.

Oh absolutely, I'm not suggesting anyone else with think of an ostrich, just saying what it makes me think of. More importantly, to me it's not a nice sound.

Glad you think some of my other names are nice though, even though I'm clearly old, glad you approve. 😉

I love Octavia! In one of my favorite shows there is a woman named Octavia and her brother just calls her "O" <3

I know an Octavia think it's a lovely name and she never shortens it

The only Octavia I knew was the daughter of a raving anti-vaxxer, and always had a large amount of snot smeared across her face, matted hair and bare feet. Put me right of the name tbh.

Emerald is very pretty imo, although Sapphire is prettier. Never been keen on Ruby.

I prefer Emerald. It's a bright and shiny name.

Octavia is synonymous with "sensible family car" to me. Taxi might be a better nn than Tavi.

Oh come on, who is going to have 8 children these days. Octavia is a classic, historic name. Even Octavia the Younger wasn’t eighth in birth order.

@DurdleSnore , a former prime minister?

A couple of similar names:
You could go for the Italian version Ottavia, with Ottie being an easier shortening.
Imelda has a similar feel to Emerald and gives you the option of Immy as a shortening.

I've got a quite out there name but I think if I had to introduce myself as a either if these at a work event I would be really embarrassed.

I love both names, but I think Octavia just about edges it.

Octavia straight away has me think activia like the yogurt. Emerald is only slightly better as you could shorten it to some Em, Emma etc which might be beneficial to her wen she’s a bit older/school

And yet, the only way I would prefer it to Emerald is if it were for an eighth child.

I love both but slightly prefer Emerald. Its quirky and a bit different, I imagine a fiesty little thing that speaks her minds and goes on awesome adventures, probably getting into a bit of mischief.