Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
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Tavia
GirlLatin· “short form of Octavia, "eighth"”
- Meaning
- short form of Octavia, "eighth"
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- TAY-vee-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #8,305
- US babies 2025
- 13
- Best rank
- #1,515 (1993)
- Peak year
- 1993
Meaning and origin of Tavia
Tavia is a Latin name that is usually said to mean “short form of Octavia, "eighth"”.
Tavia is a short form of Octavia, the feminine of Octavius, a Roman family name from the Latin octavus, "eighth." Octavia the Younger, the sister of Augustus and wife of Mark Antony, is a well-known Roman bearer, admired in ancient sources for her dignity. Tavia takes the last three syllables of Octavia and makes a lighter name. It is said TAY-vee-uh, though some families say TAH-vee-uh. Octavia and Tavi are related forms, and Tavia keeps the Roman link in a shorter, less formal shape.
Popularity over time
Tavia first appears in US Social Security records in 1944. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,515 in 1993, the same year it reached its highest count of 104 babies. In 2025, 13 babies were named Tavia, and it ranked #8,305 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #2,336 in 1980, #2,423 in 2000, #4,295 in 2010, and #8,305 in 2025. Of the 2,490 US girls named Tavia since records began, 24% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 535 babies. Since 2010, 299 more have been named Tavia.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kyrsten, Katey, Pa, Ilse, and Lashae.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Tavia is usually pronounced TAY-vee-uh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with T and ends in “-ia”.
Middle names for Tavia
A few middle names that flow with Tavia: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Tavia
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Lists that include Tavia
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tavia mean?
Tavia is a Latin name that is usually said to mean “short form of Octavia, "eighth"”.
What is the origin of the name Tavia?
Tavia has Latin roots. Tavia is a short form of Octavia, the feminine of Octavius, a Roman family name from the Latin octavus, "eighth." Octavia the Younger, the sister of Augustus and wife of Mark Antony, is a well-known Roman bearer, admired in ancient sources for her dignity.
Is Tavia a popular name?
Not especially. Tavia ranked #8,305 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Tavia a boy or girl name?
Tavia is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Tavia?
Tavia is usually pronounced TAY-vee-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings