Otto Boy

Popularity: #264 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AH-toh //ˈɔ.toʊ//

Origin: German; Latin

Meaning: German: wealth; Latin: prosperous

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Otto has its roots in the Germanic language, derived from the Old High German name "Audo" or "Otto," which means "wealth" or "prosperity." This name evolved through various forms in the Germanic languages, ultimately becoming "Otto" in Middle High German. The name made its way into English through the influence of the Normans, who brought it to England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it was adopted into the vernacular as a given name, retaining its original meaning.

Historically, the name Otto has been borne by several notable figures, most prominently Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, who reigned from 936 to 973. He is often credited with consolidating the German territories and establishing the Holy Roman Empire, which played a significant role in the political landscape of medieval Europe.

The name also appears in various forms in the annals of history, including Otto II and Otto III, both of whom continued the legacy of their predecessor. Additionally, the name is associated with several saints, including Saint Otto of Bamberg, a 12th-century bishop known for his missionary work in Pomerania.

Culturally, the name Otto has resonated through literature and folklore, often symbolizing nobility and strength. In German-speaking countries, it has been a traditional name, appearing in various historical texts and documents.

The name's enduring appeal can also be seen in its diminutive form, "Otti," which has been used affectionately in familial contexts. Overall, Otto carries a rich historical significance, embodying themes of leadership and prosperity that have contributed to its lasting presence in European culture.

Famous people named Otto

In this section, you will find notable people named Otto. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Otto who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Otto who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Otto von Bismarck was a statesman best known for unifying Germany and serving as its first Chancellor.

Otto Frank was a businessman best known for being the father of Anne Frank and the founder of the Anne Frank Foundation.

Otto Preminger was a film director best known for Anatomy of a Murder, The Man with the Golden Arm, and Laura.

Otto Dix was a painter and printmaker best known for his work in the New Objectivity movement and his depictions of war.

Otto Kahn was a financier and philanthropist best known for his role in the development of the American theater and his contributions to the arts.

Fictional characters named Otto

The following list of fictional characters named Otto 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.

Otto is a fictional character from the animated television series The Simpsons. He is the school bus driver known for his laid-back attitude and love of rock music.

Otto Octavius is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. He is a brilliant scientist who becomes the supervillain Doctor Octopus, known for his mechanical tentacles and complex relationship with Spider-Man.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Otto, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LeoMaxHugoFelixTheoMilo

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Otto. 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.

AltoOtisOwenOrenOrsonOttohOdinOmar

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Otto was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Otto has ranked as high as #541 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, Texas, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Otto has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Otto 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 Otto 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 Otto.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,241 1,241 0
2024 1,244 1,244 0
2023 1,193 1,193 0
2022 1,082 1,082 0
2021 975 975 0
2020 792 792 0
2019 719 719 0
2018 707 707 0
2017 617 617 0
2016 560 560 0
2015 526 526 0
2014 417 417 0
2013 343 343 0
2012 288 288 0
2011 213 213 0
2010 180 180 0
2009 172 172 0
2008 136 136 0
2007 145 145 0
2006 134 134 0
2005 127 127 0
2004 115 115 0
2003 97 97 0
2002 91 91 0
2001 90 90 0
2000 61 61 0
1999 65 65 0
1998 73 73 0
1997 51 51 0
1996 70 70 0
1995 50 50 0
1994 62 62 0
1993 63 63 0
1992 52 52 0
1991 51 51 0
1990 73 73 0
1989 61 61 0
1988 67 67 0
1987 53 53 0
1986 60 60 0
1985 62 62 0
1984 45 45 0
1983 56 56 0
1982 60 60 0
1981 57 57 0
1980 53 53 0
1979 66 66 0
1978 60 60 0
1977 61 61 0
1976 63 63 0
1975 65 65 0
1974 72 72 0
1973 54 54 0
1972 85 85 0
1971 94 94 0
1970 92 92 0
1969 81 81 0
1968 86 86 0
1967 110 110 0
1966 111 111 0
1965 88 88 0
1964 120 120 0
1963 126 126 0
1962 122 122 0
1961 140 140 0
1960 141 141 0
1959 150 150 0
1958 147 147 0
1957 152 152 0
1956 161 161 0
1955 137 137 0
1954 151 151 0
1953 169 169 0
1952 150 150 0
1951 147 147 0
1950 150 150 0
1949 172 172 0
1948 173 173 0
1947 177 177 0
1946 181 181 0
1945 175 175 0
1944 174 174 0
1943 195 195 0
1942 229 229 0
1941 215 215 0
1940 227 227 0
1939 225 225 0
1938 271 271 0
1937 274 274 0
1936 277 277 0
1935 289 289 0
1934 318 318 0
1933 322 322 0
1932 356 356 0
1931 365 365 0
1930 438 438 0
1929 468 458 10
1928 469 469 0
1927 513 506 7
1926 488 488 0
1925 547 540 7
1924 606 606 0
1923 581 573 8
1922 628 628 0
1921 645 640 5
1920 640 634 6
1919 602 596 6
1918 733 728 5
1917 814 803 11
1916 725 719 6
1915 779 773 6
1914 605 598 7
1913 509 509 0
1912 398 398 0
1911 228 228 0
1910 200 200 0
1909 180 180 0
1908 177 177 0
1907 170 170 0
1906 173 173 0
1905 172 172 0
1904 161 161 0
1903 166 166 0
1902 192 192 0
1901 156 156 0
1900 199 199 0
1899 174 174 0
1898 259 259 0
1897 234 234 0
1896 256 250 6
1895 283 283 0
1894 270 270 0
1893 257 257 0
1892 280 275 5
1891 279 274 5
1890 267 267 0
1889 309 309 0
1888 312 312 0
1887 253 253 0
1886 270 270 0
1885 263 263 0
1884 288 288 0
1883 240 240 0
1882 252 252 0
1881 221 221 0
1880 271 271 0

Top States for Otto (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
CA 92
7%
MN 68
6%
TX 61
5%
MI 60
5%
NY 58
5%
OH 57
5%
PA 57
5%
WI 57
5%
WA 50
4%
IL 47
4%
MO 44
4%
IN 42
3%
FL 35
3%
CO 35
3%
UT 31
3%
OR 30
2%
IA 30
2%
MA 29
2%
NC 28
2%
VA 26
2%
AZ 26
2%
NJ 22
2%
MD 21
2%
KS 20
2%
TN 19
2%
ND 19
2%
GA 17
1%
CT 14
1%
SD 13
1%
KY 12
1%
MT 10
1%
NE 10
1%
ID 10
1%
OK 8
1%
SC 8
1%
AL 7
1%
HI 7
1%
ME 7
1%
NV 7
1%
NH 7
1%
RI 6
0%
DC 5
0%
AK 5
0%
LA 5
0%
AR 5
0%