Holding steady, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Othello since 1905
Babies named Othello per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Othello's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 11 | 0 |
| 1910s | 50 | 69 |
| 1920s | 47 | 91 |
| 1930s | 8 | 41 |
| 1940s | 0 | 65 |
| 1950s | 0 | 54 |
| 1960s | 0 | 40 |
| 1970s | 0 | 47 |
| 1980s | 0 | 29 |
| 1990s | 0 | 41 |
| 2000s | 0 | 64 |
| 2010s | 0 | 70 |
| 2020s | 0 | 76 |
Meaning & origin
Othello is a name with literary weight and extreme rarity. First recorded in 1913, it reached its peak rank of 8910 in 1914, the year of its highest recorded usage. With a recent 1-in-213,510 frequency, it remains a distinctive choice, never entering the mainstream. Its trajectory has been stable, and it has not experienced a modern revival. The name is indelibly linked to Shakespeare's Moorish general, a figure of tragic nobility, which gives it a dramatic and intellectual aura. Parents drawn to Othello often appreciate its literary heritage and unusual sound.
The name Othello is best known as the title character of William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" (1603). The name is thought to have been invented by Shakespeare, possibly derived from the Italian name Otho, itself from the Germanic name Otto meaning "wealth" or "fortune." Another theory connects it to the Italian word "otello," a diminutive of Otho. The name has been used occasionally in the English-speaking world since the play's popularity but remains rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Othy, Thel
Sibling names for Othello
Names that share Othello's style, for a brother or sister.
