Otis is a powerful name for boys that is direct and commanding. It was originally a surname in England, becoming a given name shortly after the Revolutionary War. As of 2022, Otis is a top 700 option for boys.
Meaning and Origin of the Name Otis:
Otis was first a surname in England. It came from the Medieval given name Ode, a nickname for Otto. Otto was the German form of Odo, the shortened form of any option that used the “aud” element. The surname spread to America, becoming popular as a given name because of revolutionary James Otis. The name means “wealth, fortune”.
Symbolism of the Name Otis:
The baby name Otis translates to “wealth” or “fortune”. It dates back to the historically Germanic Otto, a form of Odo. Odo comes from the Germanic element “aud,” which directly translates to “wealth” or “fortune”.
Nicknames for the Name Otis:
Otis has some very sweet and adorable nicknames that are derived from it! For a list of the best choices, consider ours:
- Tis
- Ott
- Ottie
- Otty
- Otto
- Otter
- Otters
- Otts
- O.T.
Style of the Name Otis:
Traditional
Gender of the Name Otis:
Otis is a strong name for boys.
Pronunciation of the Name Otis:
O-tis
Number of Syllables in the Name Otis:
Two
Emotion Evoked From the Name Otis:
Otis is a strong and formal name. It is mature and simple.
Alternative Spellings for the Name Otis:
- Otus
- Ottus
- Ottis
- Otys
- Ottys
Popularity of the Name Otis:
Otis was a top 200 name in America until 1944. It was on the top 300 list for two years: 1942 and 1943. Otis was most popular in 1905 and 1909 at rank 99. As of 2022, Otis remains a top 1,000 option for boys. It is a top 700 baby name at rank 613.
Related Names for the Name Otis:
Great Middle Names for Otis and Their Meanings:
- James (supplanter)
- Theodore (gift of God, divine gift)
- Dean (from the valley)
- Everett (wild boar, brave, hardy, strong)
- Calvin (little bald one)
- Tyrell (thunder ruler)
- Dominick (of the Lord)
- Xavier (new house, bright, splendid)
Famous People with the Name Otis:
- Otis Redding (soul singer)
- Otis Williams (singer from The Temptations)
- Otis Rush (blues guitarist)
- Otis Spann (blues pianist)
- Otis Davis (Olympic sprinter)
- Otis Wingo (congressman from Arkansas)
- Otis Nixon (baseball player)
- Otis Sterling (model)
Otis's in Popular Culture:
- Otis (character from “The Adventures of Milo and Otis”)
- Otis (character from “Barnyard”)
- Otis Blake (character from “Crazy Heart”)
- Otis Hefter (character from “Deep Impact”)
- Otis (character from “The Walking Dead”)
- Otis Campbell (character from “The Andy Griffith Show”)
The image featured at the top of this post is ©inarik/ via Getty Images.