Birth month
October Baby Names: Birthstone, Flower & Zodiac Names
October baby names inspired by the month's birthstones (opal and tourmaline), birth flowers (marigold and cosmos), Libra and Scorpio, and October feast days.
4 min read
In this article
An October baby arrives with a lot of built-in inspiration: two birthstones, two birth flowers, two zodiac signs and some well-loved saints' days. None of these names has to shout "born in fall". Most of them are simply good names with a quiet link to the month.
Every name below links to its profile, where you can see its meaning, origin and how its popularity has changed since 1880.
Names from the word October
October comes from the Latin octo, eight. It was the eighth month of the early Roman calendar, which started in March. That gives you a family of elegant Latin names that all mean "eighth".
Girl name: Octavia
#308 in US“eighth” · Latin
The most popular of the group, with a Roman empress's polish and the easy nickname Tavi.
Boy name: Octavius
#2,056 in US“eighth” · Latin
The boy's form. Bold and classical, and still rare in the US.
Girl name: Tavi
#11,932 in USA short, bright option on its own if Octavia feels like too much name.
Birthstone names: opal and tourmaline
October has two birthstones. Opal is known for its shifting flashes of color, and tourmaline comes in almost every shade, from pink to deep green. Tourmaline is a lot to put on a birth certificate, but opal makes a lovely name, and you can borrow tourmaline's colors.
Girl name: Opal
#423 in US“the opal gemstone” · English
A vintage gem name that is back in the US top 500. Short, soft and clearly October.
Girl name: Rose
#114 in US“rose flower” · Latin
For pink tourmaline, the stone's best-known shade. Timeless and easy to pair as a middle name.
Unisex name: Jade
#95 in US“jade gemstone” · Spanish
A nod to green tourmaline. Crisp, one syllable and just as gem-like.
Girl name: Goldie
#621 in US“gold” · English
For the warm golden tones of fall, and a cheerful vintage revival.
Birth flower names: marigold and cosmos
October's birth flowers are the marigold and the cosmos. Marigolds glow orange and gold, and they are central to Día de los Muertos altars at the start of November. Cosmos takes its name from the Greek kosmos, meaning order or the universe. For more blossoms, see our flower names for girls.
Girl name: Marigold
#590 in US“marigold flower” · English
A storybook flower name with the nicknames Mari, Goldie and Mae built in.
Boy name: Cosmo
#1,932 in US“order, universe” · Greek
The cosmos flower and the universe in one name. Playful, rare and easy to say.
Girl name: Goldie
#621 in US“gold” · English
Works as a marigold nickname or a full name in its own right.
Libra names (September 23 to October 22)
Libra is an air sign symbolized by the scales and ruled by Venus. The sign is linked with balance, fairness and beauty, so these names lean on justice and harmony, plus Libra's ruling planet.
Girl name: Venus
#1,990 in US“love” · Latin
Libra's ruling planet, named for the Roman goddess of love.
Unisex name: Justice
#1,112 in US“justice” · English
A virtue name for the sign of the scales, and a gender-neutral one.
Boy name: Justin
#233 in US“just, fair” · Latin
From the Latin for "just, fair". A familiar classic with a Libra meaning.
Girl name: Justine
#3,712 in US“just, fair” · French
The French feminine form, softer and much rarer today.
Unisex name: Harmony
#276 in US“harmony” · English
A word name for Libra's love of balance and beauty.
Scorpio names (October 23 to November 21)
Scorpio is a water sign symbolized by the scorpion. Its traditional ruler is Mars and its modern ruler is Pluto. Scorpio babies get a little more mystery: names tied to Mars, and to the stars of the Scorpius constellation.
Boy name: Antares
The brightest star in Scorpius, a red supergiant. Its name means "rival of Mars".
Boy name: Marcus
#258 in US“of Mars” · Latin
Means "of Mars", Scorpio's traditional ruler. Strong and timeless.
Boy name: Martin
#335 in US“of Mars” · Latin
Another "of Mars" name, gentler and a little old-fashioned in a good way.
Unisex name: Mars
#1,609 in US“god of war” · Latin
The planet itself. Short, bold and gender-neutral.
October saints' days
Many families choose a name whose feast day falls near the birthday. October has some of the best-known saints of all.
Unisex name: Francis
#420 in US“Frenchman” · Latin
Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, is celebrated on October 4.
Girl name: Frances
#318 in US“Frenchman, free” · English
The feminine form, now back in fashion and often shortened to Frankie.
Girl name: Teresa
#908 in US“possibly harvester” · Greek
Saint Teresa of Ávila's feast is October 15.
Boy name: Luke
#33 in US“man from Lucania” · English
The Gospel writer Saint Luke is honored on October 18.
Unisex name: Jude
#155 in US“praised” · Hebrew
Saints Simon and Jude share October 28. Jude is short, warm and gender-neutral.
Questions parents ask
What are good names for a baby born in October?
Octavia and Octavius both mean "eighth", for October's place in the old Roman calendar. Opal is October's birthstone, Marigold and Cosmo come from its birth flowers, and Francis, Teresa, Luke and Jude have October feast days.
What is the birthstone for October?
October has two birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Opal is also a name, and it is back in the US top 500.
What zodiac signs are October babies?
Babies born from October 1 to 22 are Libras, and babies born from October 23 to 31 are Scorpios.
What is the October birth flower?
The marigold and the cosmos. Marigold works as a name, and Cosmo comes from the same Greek word as the cosmos flower.
