Holding steady.
Popularity of Ota since 1881
Babies named Ota per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ota's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 41 |
| 1890s | 54 |
| 1900s | 23 |
| 1910s | 55 |
| 1920s | 37 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ota is an exceptionally rare name in U.S. records, first recorded in 1881, the same year as its peak usage. It has never ranked among the top 1,000 names, with a stable trajectory showing only occasional use. The name's origins are ambiguous: it may be a Japanese name meaning 'song' or a Western diminutive. Despite its scarcity, Ota's simplicity and vowel ending give it a modern feel. Without top states or notable bearers, the name remains a quiet choice with a hint of cross-cultural appeal.
Ota has multiple possible origins. In Japanese, it can be written with characters such as 太 (ta, meaning 'thick' or 'big') or 音 (ota, meaning 'sound' or 'note'), often as a surname or given name. In English, it may have emerged as a diminutive or variant of Octavia or other names beginning with 'Ott-'. Given its low historical usage in U.S. records, a definitive etymology is elusive.
Sibling names for Ota
Names that share Ota's style, for a brother or sister.
