Declining since 1993, #7,885 for girls today.
Popularity of Tavia since 1944
Babies named Tavia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 28 |
| 1960s | 152 |
| 1970s | 409 |
| 1980s | 471 |
| 1990s | 591 |
| 2000s | 535 |
| 2010s | 225 |
| 2020s | 74 |
Meaning & origin
Tavia originated as a short form of the Roman name Octavia, meaning 'eighth', and first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1944. It reached its peak popularity in 1993, ranking around 7,885 in 2025 with an incidence of 1 in 123,636 girls. Since its peak, Tavia has been on a gradual decline, reflecting a broader shift away from more obscure vintage names. While not common in any single state, Tavia has a soft, melodic sound that fits well with modern tastes for revival names, though it has yet to see a resurgence.
Tavia originated as a diminutive of Octavia, the feminine form of the Latin name Octavius, which means 'eighth'. Octavius was a Roman family name, and Octavia was borne by the sister of the Roman emperor Augustus. The shortened form Tavia emerged in the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States, as an independent given name in the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tav, Tavi, Via
Sibling names for Tavia
Names that share Tavia's style, for a brother or sister.
