Octavia
Girl name · #308 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Octavia? In official American birth records, Octavia has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Octavia is currently the #308 girl name in the United States — 982 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1354, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,833 girls born in 2025 was named Octavia.
Babies named Octavia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Octavia first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 27 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 1,238 girls were named Octavia — good for #248 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Octavia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Octavia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Octavia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Octavia is most common
Geography matters for names, and Octavia is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Octavia is most common in WV (5.1 per 1,000), ID (2.1 per 1,000), IA (2 per 1,000), KY (1.9 per 1,000), AR (1.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Octavia is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Octavia
Statistically, parents drawn to Octavia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ophelia, Alessia, Aurelia, Rosalia, and Amalia.
OpheliaAlessiaAureliaRosaliaAmaliaLeiaJulietaXiomara
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Octavia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 982 | #308 |
| 2024 | 1,074 | #294 |
| 2023 | 1,129 | #279 |
| 2022 | 1,238 | #247 |
| 2021 | 1,238 | #248 |
| 2020 | 930 | #333 |
| 2019 | 852 | #370 |
| 2018 | 737 | #426 |
| 2017 | 505 | #595 |
| 2016 | 260 | #1018 |
| 2015 | 175 | #1354 |
| 2014 | 71 | #2517 |
| 2013 | 73 | #2458 |
| 2012 | 81 | #2315 |
| 2011 | 72 | #2511 |
| 2010 | 91 | #2152 |
| 2009 | 109 | #1914 |
| 2008 | 117 | #1834 |
| 2007 | 95 | #2117 |
| 2006 | 130 | #1627 |
| 2005 | 162 | #1343 |
| 2004 | 140 | #1453 |
| 2003 | 165 | #1267 |
| 2002 | 196 | #1084 |
| 2001 | 183 | #1141 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Octavia?
In official American birth records, the name Octavia first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 27 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Octavia a popular girl name?
Octavia ranked #308 among girls in 2025 with 982 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #1354.
When was the name Octavia most popular?
Octavia peaked in 2021, when 1,238 American girls received the name (ranked #248 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Octavia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,833 newborn American girls was named Octavia. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.