Otila
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a diminutive form meaning "little ruler."
Name Census estimates that about 105 living Americans carry the first name Otila. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Otila today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Otila births was 1924 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Otila. 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 Otila is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Otilas were born before 1959.
People living today
105
~ 1 in 3,264,327 Americans
Peak year
1924
21 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1974 SSA rank
#8,402
Tracked since 1894
Popularity
Otila: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Otila from the 1890s through to the 1970s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 163 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
Otila 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 Otila during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Otilas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Otila
The name Otila finds its roots in the Old High German language, originating around the 8th century AD. It is derived from the Germanic elements "aud" meaning wealth or fortune, and "hild" meaning battle or combat. Thus, the name Otila can be interpreted to mean "prosperous in battle" or "fortunate warrior."
During the medieval period, the name Otila was predominantly used in regions of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It was particularly popular among the nobility and warrior classes, reflecting its connotations of valor and prosperity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Otila can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a renowned German epic poem dating back to around the 13th century. In this literary work, Otila is mentioned as a valiant warrior and companion of the legendary hero Siegfried.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Otila. One such figure was Otila of Regensburg, a Benedictine abbess who lived in the 11th century and played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of her time.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Otila von Katzenelnbogen, a 13th-century German noblewoman and heiress to the County of Katzenelnbogen. Her marriage to Henry II of Nassau contributed to the expansion of Nassau's territorial holdings.
In the 15th century, Otila von Nürnberg was a respected physician and author who wrote extensively on medical practices and herbal remedies. Her contributions to the field of medicine were highly regarded during her lifetime.
During the Renaissance period, Otila Gonzaga, an Italian noblewoman born in 1492, gained recognition for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in the cultural circles of her time.
Another notable figure was Otila de Avilés, a 16th-century Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied various expeditions to the Americas and is believed to have been among the first European women to set foot in what is now Florida.
While the name Otila has fallen out of widespread use in recent times, it remains a part of historical records and literary works, serving as a reminder of its rich cultural heritage and associations with valor, prosperity, and nobility.
People
Otila + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Otila 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
Otila: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Otila?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 105 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Otila 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 3,264,327 US residents.
Is Otila a common name?
We classify Otila as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 510 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Otila most popular?
The single biggest year for Otila was 1924, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Otila is about 77 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Otila a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Otila 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.