Othello Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: oh-THEL-oh /oʊˈθɛloʊ/
Origin: Italian; Arabic
Meaning: Italian: 'the one who is blessed'; Arabic: 'he who is strong'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Othello is derived from the Italian name "Otello," which is a diminutive form of "Otho," itself originating from the Germanic name "Otto." The etymological roots of Otto can be traced back to the Old High German "od," meaning "wealth" or "fortune." The name made its way into English primarily through the influence of the Italian Renaissance and the works of playwrights such as William Shakespeare, who immortalized the name in his tragedy "Othello," written in the early 17th century. Shakespeare's play, which centers on themes of jealousy, love, and betrayal, has significantly shaped the cultural perception of the name.
Historically, the name Othello is often associated with the character of a Moorish general in the Venetian army, a figure that has been interpreted in various ways throughout literary history. The character's complex identity and tragic fate have led to numerous adaptations and interpretations in literature and performance.
The play itself has been a subject of critical analysis since its publication in 1622, reflecting societal attitudes towards race and gender during the Elizabethan era. Culturally, Othello has come to symbolize the archetype of the tragic hero, often representing themes of otherness and the consequences of societal prejudice.
The name has resonated in various artistic expressions, including operas and films, further embedding it in the cultural consciousness. The diminutive "Otto" has also been used historically, though it carries different connotations and associations.
Overall, the name Othello encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution, historical significance, and cultural resonance.
Fictional characters named Othello
The following list of fictional characters named Othello is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Othello is a fictional character from the play Othello by William Shakespeare. He is a Moorish general in the Venetian army whose life unravels due to jealousy and betrayal.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Othello, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Othello. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Othello was first seen in the United States in 1905.
Othello has ranked as high as #3109 nationally, which occurred in 1923, and has been most popular in Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Othello has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Othello is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Othello was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Othello.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2023 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2013 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2000 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1990 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1983 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1982 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1980 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1979 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1978 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1975 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1974 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1971 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1968 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1966 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1963 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1962 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1961 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1959 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1958 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1956 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1955 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1954 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1952 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1951 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1949 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1947 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1946 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1945 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1944 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1943 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1942 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1941 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1940 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1939 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1938 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1934 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1932 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1931 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1930 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1929 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1928 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1927 | 14 | 7 | 7 |
| 1926 | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| 1925 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| 1924 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 1923 | 24 | 16 | 8 |
| 1922 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1921 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1920 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1919 | 24 | 14 | 10 |
| 1918 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1917 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 1916 | 20 | 11 | 9 |
| 1915 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1914 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
| 1913 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1910 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1908 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1905 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Othello (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 6 |