Elaborate, Strong Girl Names Like Francesca: Why Not Octavia?

Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.

LOOKING FOR NAMES LIKE FRANCESCA

Sara writes:

We named our daughter Francesca Eden Lastname and we have loved her name from the minute we chose it.

My husband is half Italian, and yes, I do like Bridgerton. But it wasn’t about either of those things. We just liked the sound. Right now she goes by Francesca, no nickname, and it hasn’t been an issue.

For our second daughter, we started out with our list of names we considered after we found out we were having a girl the first time: Penelope, Gianna, Josephine, Juliette, Elena. None of them seemed right this time.

We found Octavia on a list somewhere and my husband liked it immediately, which is very unusual. It took me a minute to warm up to it, but it’s really gone to the top of my list. It sounds strong and different and I feel like it has maybe a little bit of attitude in a good way.

When we’ve tested it out with family, they’ve all said some version of the same thing, either that they like Olivia better, or that it’s a weird name, or both. They say we can’t call her Octie and what nickname would we use? We didn’t really share Francesca’s name before we chose it, so I guess it didn’t come up last time, but we’re not as sure this time and were hoping for some encouragement.

Now I guess I want to know if it’s a name we’ll regret. We also could use some help with middle names, because we keep coming back to Rose, which would be okay, but I feel like we could do better.

Our last name sounds like Lat-eh-nur. My sister joked that we could name her Octavia Willow so she’d be OWL and I know it was a joke, but I kind of love it!

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

WHEN YOU FIND THE NAME, YOU KNOW

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

Here’s what leaps out at me: Octavia has taken you by surprise. It wasn’t a name you considered during you first pregnancy and it sounds like you haven’t heard it in use on other children – or anyone – in real life.

But it’s hitting all the right notes. And I think this is one of those moments when you the right name just appears.

Let’s tackle popularity first:

• While Francesca has a long, steady history of use in the US, it’s actually not that popular right now. As of 2025, the name ranks #307, an all-time high. But that’s still not anywhere near Amelia, Sophia, or many more familiar names for girls.
• But get this: Octavia came in at #308 in 2025. It’s nearly identical in popularity at this very moment. In the late 19th century, Octavia would’ve been far more common than Francesca in the US. Octavia spent a few decades in hibernation, but it’s experienced a 21st century revival.

In fairness, that’s not what your family and friends mean. They mean that they’re dimly aware of people named Francesca. Maybe only your daughter and the Bridgerton sibling, but hey – that’s two.

Octavia has just as much history, though, and my guess is that if you give the name to your daughter? All of a sudden, your extended circle will discover that, indeed, the name has been around. (I mean … Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer? Visionary author Octavia E. Butler? Give them a minute, and they’ll discover them all, like a character on sci fi series The 100, named for the ancient Octavia, who appears in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.

In other words? I think you’ve found your name.

A few more answers to objections:

• It sounds like you’re not really nickname people. If your family persists in complaining about Octie, might I suggest Tavy or Via or something similar? Sisters called Franny and Tavy sound sweet to me. Or Frankie and Tavie. Mix and match as you like.
• Olivia is a very familiar name, of course. But isn’t that also a potential issue? I feel ike you could shrug this one off with “yes, it’s a lovely name but we already know three” and others would be forced to nod. It is literally the #1 name in the US. I don’t think that is a reason to completely avoid the name, but it’s certainly possible that Olivia could already repeat in your extended circles.

Moving on to middle names:

Octavia Willow is just about perfect, especially as a sister for Francesca Eden. Both middles feel modern, surprising, and gently connected to the natural world.

Let’s explore a few more options that don’t spell anything.

• OCTAVIA JULES – From your potential middle name Juliette
• OCTAVIA LAINE/LANE – From Elena
• OCTAVIA JEANNE – From Gianna and maybe a nod to Josephine, too
• OCTAVIA REESE – A little twist on Rose

Though honestly? I’m not sure if I can top Octavia Willow!

Let’s end with a thought about name regret.

It’s a real thing. Plenty of us – myself included – have come up with The Perfect Name months after the ink has dried on our child’s birth certificate. It’s hard to let go. But I do think the worst name regret scenarios develop when we don’t trust our gut. We reject our favorite name for fear it’s too popular/too different. A loved one convinces us we can’t break with family tradition. Our partner vetoes our top name while we do the same to theirs and we end up choosing a runner-up from both of our lists that neither of us really love.

Readers, let’s get your input. Can you suggest more names like Francesca? How do you handle negative reactions to a name you and your partner love?