Is Octavia pretentious?

[persephoneplum]

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?

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.

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!

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...

Great name....

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!

Sallright if you is posh.

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.

Only for number 8 imho

love it I would def use it

Octavia is pretentious, but is also a name with a long heritage so if you like it, go for it.

Freya I like, but I prefer if there's an actual connection to Scandinavia (just my personal opinion).

I like it. But then again, all the names I like seem to fall under the "pretentious" categories on here! So perhaps I am not the best person to comment...

Is she your 8th child? No other excuse.

Yes

In the same way that you shouldn't call any boy who isn't the seventh son Septimus.

If you like it then use it, but anyone who has studied Latin will think you are bonkers or badly educated.

But that really shouldn't bother you if you really like the name!!

I love Octavia. Lovely name.

Freya is horrible.

Did you read Margaret Drabble's 'The Millstone'? The baby in that is called Octavia - IMHO it is such a very beautiful book and such a very beautiful name.

Know 2 Octavias, one gets called Taves sometimes but mostly sticks to Octavia, and the other is called Occie.

Pretentious, but pretty

It is a beautiful name, and Yes,teafortwo I have read 'The Millstone', a lovely book.

A lot less pretentious than the 'trying too hard' old ladies' names which are the vogue in some circles.

I've only known one and she seems to get on just fine with it. She does have a 3 syllable surname though, so the whole name flows really well.

Octavia is lovely, and not pretentious. Had a friend called this at school, she was Tavy for short. Lovely, go for it.

yes

very

Great name imo