Otelia
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Greek.
Name Census estimates that about 213 living Americans carry the first name Otelia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Otelia today is around 74 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Otelia births was 1923 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Otelia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Otelia is about 74 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Otelias were born before 1962.
People living today
213
~ 1 in 1,609,175 Americans
Peak year
1923
35 babies that year
Average age
74
years old
1982 SSA rank
#8,918
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Otelia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Otelia from the 1880s through to the 1980s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 249 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Otelia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Otelia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Otelias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Virginia, North Carolina, Texas recorded the most babies named Otelia, while Texas, North Carolina, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 102 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Otelia
The name Otelia has its origins in the ancient Greek language and culture. It is derived from the Greek word "otos," which means "ear," and the suffix "-elia," which means "sun." The name can be interpreted as "sunny ear" or "ear of the sun."
In Greek mythology, there are no direct references to the name Otelia, but it is believed to be connected to the god Apollo, who was associated with the sun and music. The name may have been given to children born during the summer solstice or to those who were particularly gifted in music or the arts.
The earliest recorded use of the name Otelia dates back to the 5th century BC in ancient Greek texts. However, it was not a commonly used name during that time period and remained relatively obscure until the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Otelia was a Greek poet and philosopher who lived in the 3rd century BC. Her works have been lost to time, but she was known for her contributions to the study of rhetoric and language.
Another notable Otelia was a Roman noblewoman who lived in the 1st century AD. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support of various philosophical schools in Rome.
In the 12th century, a woman named Otelia de Montfort was a prominent figure in the French court. She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and was renowned for her intelligence and wit.
During the Renaissance, an Italian artist named Otelia Rossi gained recognition for her intricate botanical illustrations and paintings of natural landscapes. She was born in 1492 and worked primarily in Florence and Rome.
In the 19th century, Otelia Puente was a Cuban singer and musician who helped popularize the rhythms and styles of Afro-Cuban music. She was born in 1923 and became known as the "Queen of Latin Music" for her contributions to the genre.
Throughout history, the name Otelia has remained relatively uncommon, but it has been used across various cultures and regions. While it may not be as widely recognized as some other names, it carries a rich heritage and connection to the ancient Greek language and mythology.
People
Otelia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Otelia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Otelia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Otelia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 213 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Otelia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,609,175 US residents.
Is Otelia a common name?
We classify Otelia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,184 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Otelia most popular?
The single biggest year for Otelia was 1923, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Otelia is about 74 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Otelia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Otelia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.