Otis

Otis - A very unique male name

Otis appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #106. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Otis and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Otis? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Otis. The baby boy name Otis was given to 377 baby boys in 2025, ranking #657 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,889 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Otis peaked in popularity 116 years ago in 1910 on position 106.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Otis, 1-5?

Otis is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Otis is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #306 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,004.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Otis is where you live.

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Otis origin and meaning

Germanic, via a surname

From the surname Otis, itself from the medieval name Odo/Otto, from Germanic aud, 'wealth, fortune'

Otis travelled from the Germanic name Otto into an English surname and then a given name, present in the data since 1910. It peaked in 1920, and after a long vintage quiet period it sits in the middle ranks today.

Attested etymology

Otis is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Otis, pop culture references for the name Otis and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Otis

We've found the following names that sound similar to Otis, sorted by popularity.

Odis / Ottis / Odysseus / Odus / Odes / Odies /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Otis

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Otis a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Otis?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

OH-tis · /ˈoʊtɪs/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Otis Redding — Soul singer, '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' (1941–1967) Historical
• Otis Williams — Founding member and last surviving original member of The Temptations (b. 1941) Contemporary

Style

Vintage revivalSurname

Why parents choose it

Otis is a vintage-revival pick with soul-music soul — sturdy, warm and a little rumpled, in the best way.

Worth knowing

• The elevator company shares the name and is often the first association