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At a Glance: Name: October – Meaning: originally 'the eighth month' in the old Roman calendar, from Latin octo 'eight' – Origin: English, from Latin (month name) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: ahk-TOH-ber
October is an English name taken straight from the month, which traces back to the Latin word octo, meaning 'eight' — a nod to its original spot as the eighth month in the old Roman calendar, before the calendar was later reordered. It's a name built entirely on that calendar history, with no additional meaning attached beyond it. For parents drawn to month names, October comes with this bit of Roman-numeral backstory built right in.
Meaning & Origin of October
Meaning: Originally 'the eighth month' in the old Roman calendar, from Latin octo 'eight'.
Origin: English, from Latin (month name).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce October
Phonetic: ahk-TOH-ber IPA: /ɒkˈtoʊbər/
Popularity of October
SSA records for October span 1969 to 2024, with usage peaking in 2008 at rank #2606 and 72 babies given the name. By 2024 it had dropped to rank #3619, with just 43 babies recorded that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1969–2024.
Make October Name Art
Free printable nursery art for October, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name October mean?
Originally ‘the eighth month’ in the old Roman calendar, from Latin octo ‘eight’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/October)
How do you pronounce October?
October is pronounced ahk-TOH-ber (IPA: /ɒkˈtoʊbər/).
Is October a popular name right now?
October peaked at #2606 in 2008 and is ranked #3619 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1969–2024.)
📊 How popular is October? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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