MallowbyNames

Otis

OH-tis · Wealth, fortune, or a variant of the Old German name Odo, implying prosperity.

2025 rank (boys)
#652
Babies named in 2025
422
Peak popularity
1899
2025 frequency
1 in 4,048 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Rising since 2003

A 1890s favorite, climbing again.

Popularity of Otis since 1880

Babies named Otis per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Otis's real moment was 1899.

3446871k1880192019602000Most births 1920Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1880s1,006
1890s1,349
1900s1,966
1910s6,963
1920s9,352
1930s7,456
1940s7,654
1950s7,285
1960s4,955
1970s3,553
1980s2,237
1990s1,367
2000s1,028
2010s2,414
2020s2,497

Meaning & origin

Otis is a name of German origin meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune,' brought to England as a surname before becoming a given name. Its peak popularity in the U.S. was in 1899, when it ranked among the top 100 names, and after a long decline, it has been steadily rising again since 2003, now at rank 652 in 2025 with about 1 in 4,048 boys receiving the name. The name is particularly popular in states like Colorado, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin, which often favor names with a classic, sturdy feel. Otis has a revivalist quality, appealing to parents seeking an underused vintage name with a down-to-earth image.

Otis derives from the Old German element 'od,' meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune.' It emerged as a surname in medieval England, later adopted as a given name, particularly in the United States during the 19th century. The name gained prominence through families like the Otis family of Massachusetts, known for political and literary figures.

Where Otis 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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few births

Otis” around the world

Where Otis lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    25

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    7

    babies in 2025

  • New Zealand

    40

    babies in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Ote

Sibling names for Otis

Names that share Otis's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Mae, Ada, Clara, Ivy, Pearl, Alta, Altha, Alva, Aretha, Belva, Birdie, Bulah, Della, Dessie, Effie, Elma, Elsie, Essie, Esta, Etta, Eula, Eulah, Exie, Floy, Gussie, Hettie, Idella, Iola, Iva, Jetta, Lela, Lelia, Leola, Lessie, Leta, Letha, Lettie, Lona, Lovie, Lula, Lura, Mayme, Mertie, Minnie, Mozella, Myra, Nelle, Nola, Oma, Ora, Ottie, Ova, Pearlie, Retta, Scottie, Tillie, Tressa, Velma, Verda, Winnie, Winona, Zelda, Alverta, Atha, Avie, Carma, Classie, Cordia, Delcie, Delpha, Dreama, Edra, Elba, Elvie, Elzie, Erie, Etha, Eura, Fleta, Illa, Kizzie, Lavada, Lenna, Loma, Luetta, Lyda, Mallie, Minta, Myrtie, Nori, Oneta, Onnie, Osie, Pearlene, Ressie, Sula, Theola, Vallie, Vennie, Verdie, Versie, Vertie, Veta, Veva, Zona, Zula, Adda, Adra, Altie, Argie, Bama, Beula, Beuna, Birda, Bula, Buna, Byrdie, Clella, Dallie, Deetta, Dela, Dicie, Dosha, Doshie, Dossie, Ebbie, Edrie, Elsia, Eola, Ermine, Estes, Eulala, Fleeta, Flonnie, Fronia, Ireta, Ivah, Izella, Kama, Laveda, Lavella, Leetta, Leitha, Leoda, Leoma, Letta, Levonia, Lota, Lurene, Maila, Metta, Mettie, Mima, Mossie, Myrta, Neita, Nezzie, Nobie, Noni, Novie, Odean, Olinda, Omie, Oretha, Orma, Otelia, Ovella, Pearlean, Pearley, Relda, Sayde, Sundae, Vassie, Vicie, Vila, Villa, Virda, Virdie, Weltha, Altamese, Anola, Arcola, Arkie, Chlora, Clema, Cliffie, Dellia, Dezzie, Doshia, Dura, Elsi, Emmalou, Eular, Evamae, Exa, Frona, Gola, Goldia, Icie, Ioma, Iretha, Lattie, Laverda, Leeta, Lema, Loeta, Lonia, Lovett, Lucill, Mahaley, Maize, Mavie, Mayvis, Mella, Melvie, Mirtie, Myna, Necie, Nixie, Nolie, Obera, Okla, Oletta, Oleva, Orena, Oveta, Pairlee, Paw, Poppi, Tiney, Venia, Vercie, Verta, Vinia, Wana, Waunita, Willodene, Wilsie, Wynnie, Zellie, Earlee, Elvy, Elzina, Alga, Arra, Axie, Burna, Cenia, Clemma, Clessie, Clovia, Creta, Delsa, Dicy, Ermie, Estie, Ettamae, Eulamae, Eupha, Ezma, Flara, Floree, Gustie, Hattye, Ileta, Isma, Itha, Lemma, Leveda, Loda, Loella, Lowe, Lummie, Minetta, Novis, Octa, Odesser, Odester, Olar, Omah, Orra, Ortha, Otie, Ovetta, Perle, Phala, Pippin, Reona, Sibley, Statia, Suda, Therma, Verbie, Verdine, Wavie, Zeffie

Brothers: Hugo, Ezra, Felix, Arlo, Jasper, Acie, Alton, Alvis, Audie, Cletis, Delmer, Elmer, Gus, Kermit, Laroy, Miles, Olin, Orville, Otha, Rex, Ruel, Rufus, Wilburn, Wilford, Willie, Wylie, Alvie, Arch, Arley, Arnett, Artis, Barnett, Clem, Cleve, Demaris, Earlie, Landis, Lyman, Monta, Montie, Mozell, Norvell, Obie, Oral, Orson, Ossie, Ozell, Rolla, Rollie, Rosco, Wayman, Woodie, Ziggy, Alf, Alvester, Arbie, Armstead, Arsen, Arvie, Bascom, Burney, Burnis, Claudell, Clell, Cloyce, Copper, Corda, Cylis, Darrow, Doss, Emit, Erby, Erman, Harless, Heron, Hoke, Horton, Isham, Ivis, Ivo, Izell, Jb, Jiles, Lafe, Leotis, Lillard, Loney, Lonzie, Monti, Murrel, Obert, Oddie, Odus, Ollis, Opie, Orlo, Orris, Othel, Ovie, Pinkney, Raiford, Rigby, Ruffin, Ruffus, Udell, Virgel, Vollie, Arkin, Arles, Artice, Audy, Barnes, Caswell, Chalmer, Delmus, Deloss, Ebb, Eldin, Elmus, Elzy, Ervie, Escher, Esco, Estus, Evo, Firman, Hamp, Harvel, Irvan, Julis, Kizer, Loman, Maston, Mingo, Odel, Odes, Odies, Okey, Oland, Onis, Onix, Orbie, Ordell, Orlie, Sebron, Thurmond, Ulis, Virl, Wadell, Welby, Wirt, Emrik, Garl, Leavy, Alphus, Arvle, Avo, Axil, Burch, Carnie, Cleatus, Cosby, Earmon, Elby, Elius, Elzia, Farmer, Flemon, Forney, Gid, Gilliam, Gurnie, Herley, Hilman, Hux, Idus, Ikey, Juell, Loomis, Lorance, Lott, Luman, Mervil, Odas, Offie, Oley, Olis, Ordean, Osby, Plez, Rastus, Ritter, Taika, Tavio, Tunis, Ulus, Ulys

Names like Otis

Names whose popularity has moved with Otis's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

O is for Otis, our favorite little boy.

O is for Otis…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Otis's letter becomes Otis's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Otis's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Otis mean?
Otis means 'wealth' or 'fortune,' derived from the Old German element 'od'.
How popular is the name Otis today?
As of 2025, Otis ranks 652 in the United States, with about 1 in 4,048 boys given the name, showing a rising trend since 2003.
Is Otis a boy or girl name?
Otis is predominantly used as a boy's name.