Holding steady.
Popularity of Otha since 1880
Babies named Otha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Otha's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 11 | 73 |
| 1890s | 59 | 146 |
| 1900s | 108 | 222 |
| 1910s | 260 | 839 |
| 1920s | 381 | 1,172 |
| 1930s | 222 | 946 |
| 1940s | 205 | 961 |
| 1950s | 111 | 852 |
| 1960s | 37 | 493 |
| 1970s | 9 | 298 |
| 1980s | 0 | 192 |
| 1990s | 0 | 116 |
| 2000s | 0 | 59 |
| 2010s | 0 | 17 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Otha is a name that saw its peak popularity in 1909, according to U.S. Social Security data. It has since become very rare, with no recorded rank in recent years. The name likely originated as a variant or short form of Otis, a name with Germanic roots meaning 'wealth'. Despite its decline, Otha retains a classic, understated charm for those seeking a distinctive vintage name. Its trajectory suggests a stable but minimal usage over the decades.
Otha emerged as a given name in the late 19th century, possibly as a respelling or variant of the name Otha, which itself may be a short form of Otis (meaning 'wealth' in Germanic) or an invented name from the initial O. It was most notably used in the early 1900s, reaching its peak popularity in 1909, but has since fallen out of common use.
Where Otha is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: O
Variants: Otha
Sibling names for Otha
Names that share Otha's style, for a brother or sister.
