October
October: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɒkˈtəʊ.bə/ · /ɑkˈtoʊ.bəɹ/
Meaning and origin of October
Root meaning: “eighth month”
- A female given name transferred from the month name.
Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French octobre, from Latin Octōber (“eighth month”), from Latin octō (“eight”), from Proto-Indo-European *oḱtṓw (“twice four”); + Latin -ber, from -bris, an adjectival suffix; October was the eighth month in the Roman calendar.
How popular is October?
Since 1880, 1,246 girls and 96 boys in the U.S. have been named October (93% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2606 in 2008. Its highest rank for boys was #4845 in 2023. In 2025, 49 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to October
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English girl names
Sibling name ideas for October
Sister and brother names that share October's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
October FAQ
What does the name October mean?
October traces back to a root meaning "eighth month". A female given name transferred from the month name. From Middle English, borrowed from Old French octobre, from Latin Octōber (“eighth month”), from Latin octō (“eight”), from Proto-Indo-European *oḱtṓw (“twice four”); + Latin -ber, from -bris, an adjectival suffix; October was the eighth month in the Roman calendar.
What is the origin of the name October?
October is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name October?
Since 1880, 1,246 girls and 96 boys in the U.S. have been named October (93% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2606 in 2008. Its highest rank for boys was #4845 in 2023. In 2025, 49 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is October a boy or girl name?
October is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 1,246 girls and 96 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.