Where did the baby name Tavio come from in 1966?

The character Tavio from the TV series "The Long, Hot Summer" (1965-1966)
Tavio from “The Long, Hot Summer

The name Tavio first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in the middle of the 1960s:

  • 1968: unlisted
  • 1967: unlisted
  • 1966: 15 baby boys named Tavio [debut]
  • 1965: unlisted
  • 1964: unlisted

That was also the year the name saw its highest-ever usage.

Where did it come from?

A single-episode character on the short-lived ’60s TV show The Long, Hot Summer, which was set in Mississippi and based on the 1958 film of the same name.

The episode aired on February 23, 1966, and was called “Reunion – Italian Style.” In the episode, a woman returning to town brings along an Italian fiancé named Tavio Romano (played by actor Fabrizio Mioni). At one point there’s a conversation about his name, and viewers learn that Tavio’s name is short for Octavio and that he’s the eighth son in his family.

What are your thoughts on the name Tavio?

P.S. The woman with the Italian fiancé was played by actress Collin Wilcox, who’d portrayed Thedy Sue Hill a few years earlier.

Source: “Reunion – Italian Style” – The Long, Hot Summer – IMDb
Image: Screenshot of The Long, Hot Summer

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