octavus

Octavus is a Latin term meaning "eighth," used as both an adjective and a proper name in classical and later contexts. The form Octavius appears in Latin inscriptions and in English transliteration, where it often signals birth order, lineage, or a stylistic transmission of antiquity.

The most famous bearer is Gaius Octavius Thurinus (63 BCE–14 CE), commonly known as Octavius or Octavian before his rise to power. After Julius Caesar’s assassination, he was adopted by Caesar and ultimately became emperor, taking the name Augustus. His leadership is traditionally seen as the founding moment of the Roman Empire and the ushering in of the Pax Romana.

In modern usage, Octavus appears as a given name or surname in works aiming for a classical or Latin-flavored tone. It may also be employed as a Latinized epithet for fictional institutions, orders, or titles to evoke antiquity or scholarly gravitas.

In scholarly and ecclesiastical Latin, octavus serves as the ordinal form for the eighth. The root appears in various derivatives used in liturgical, commemorative, or academic contexts, illustrating how Latin numerals historically informed naming and labeling practices.

See also Octave, Octavia, Augustus.