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.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,006 |
| 1890s | 1,349 |
| 1900s | 1,966 |
| 1910s | 6,963 |
| 1920s | 9,352 |
| 1930s | 7,456 |
| 1940s | 7,654 |
| 1950s | 7,285 |
| 1960s | 4,955 |
| 1970s | 3,553 |
| 1980s | 2,237 |
| 1990s | 1,367 |
| 2000s | 1,028 |
| 2010s | 2,414 |
| 2020s | 2,497 |
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.
“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.

