Octavia is the feminine form of the Roman family name Octavius and means "eighth", from the Latin octavus. Octavia the Younger, sister of Emperor Augustus, was famed for her loyalty, and science-fiction author Octavia Butler gave the name modern American prestige. Octavia entered the US top 1000 in 2017, soared from number 1361 in 2015 to a peak of 247 in 2022 and ranks 308th in 2025.