BabyNameLens · Girl names · Boy names

Otis

“Variant of Otto — Riches, or great wealth” — Germanic origin

Boy's name · #652 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Few names move less than Otis — on the books since 1880, #652 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 61,000 boys share it. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. Odie is a short form of Otis.

Around the world: #21 in Belgium (2025) · #22 in Netherlands (2025) · #71 in England & Wales (2025) · #85 in Sweden (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 35 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Otises

• Otis Redding — American singer and songwriter (1941–1967)
• Otis Davis — American sprinter (1932–2024)
• Otis Rush — American musician (1935–2018)
• Otis Harris — American athletics competitor
• Otis Spann — American Chicago blues pianist (1930–1970)

In stories & tradition

• Otis (Ratcatcher) — Detective Comics
• Otis — Superman · Superman II
• Otis Campbell — The Andy Griffith Show

What Otises become

Among 281 notable people named Otis:

Sports figures appear 1.84× more often than among typical names — e.g. Otis Davis, American sprinter (1932–2024).

Similar names: Otto · Louie · Hugh · Harley · Alton · Ray

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service