Find out how popular the first name Otis has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Otis by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Otis is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Otis being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 417 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Otis.

The history of the first name Otis

The name Otis has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the word "Ota," which was a diminutive form of various Germanic names beginning with the element "od," meaning wealth or prosperity. It likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, around the 5th to 11th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Otis can be found in the Domesday Book, a famous manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, where it appears as a surname. The name's transition from a surname to a given name likely occurred in the following centuries.

In the Middle Ages, the name Otis was not particularly common, but it did hold some prominence. Saint Otis, a 4th-century Christian martyr from Gaul (modern-day France), was one of the earliest known individuals with this name. His feast day is celebrated on August 18th in the Catholic Church.

During the Renaissance period, the name Otis gained more popularity, particularly in England. One notable bearer was Otis Bathurst (1585-1629), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.

In the 18th century, Otis Humphrey (1676-1745), an English businessman and philanthropist, made significant contributions to the establishment of the Foundling Hospital in London, one of the earliest charitable institutions for abandoned children.

As the name gained wider recognition, it began to appear in various literary works. One of the earliest examples is Otis Warren, a character in the novel "The Pioneers" by James Fenimore Cooper, published in 1823.

The 19th century saw several notable individuals named Otis, including Otis Everett (1799-1851), an American inventor and manufacturer of the Everett Edge Tool Company, and Otis Bardwell (1818-1900), a prominent American abolitionist and educator.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name Otis was Elisha Graves Otis (1811-1861), the American inventor of the safety elevator, whose innovation revolutionized the design and construction of modern buildings.

Other notable figures throughout history include Otis Skinner (1858-1942), an American actor and playwright; Otis Redding (1941-1967), an influential American singer-songwriter and record producer; and Otis Nixon (born 1959), a former Major League Baseball player.

While the name Otis may have ancient roots, it has endured through the centuries and continues to be used in various parts of the world, carrying a sense of prosperity and wealth from its Old English origins.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Otis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Otis, please contact us.

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