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Otis

♂ Boy

Pronounced OH-tis /ˈoʊ.tɪs/High

Meaning: English surname from the Germanic given name Odo or Otto, from aud meaning wealth or prosperity; used as a given name in America since the 19th centuryHigh

In 30 seconds: A jaunty two-syllable Germanic name meaning wealth and prosperity, Otis has a wonderfully retro American sound and is staging a confident hipster revival as parents rediscover overlooked classics.
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Origin HighGermanic, English
MeaningEnglish surname from the Germanic given name Odo or Otto, from aud meaning wealth or prosperity; used as a given name in America since the 19th century
U.S. rank (2025)#652 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births422 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 61,075

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192018802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Otis is an anglicized surname derived from the Germanic given name Odo or Otto, from the element aud meaning wealth or prosperity. The surname Otis was common in colonial New England — James Otis Jr. was a fiery pre-Revolutionary patriot who coined the phrase taxation without representation.

As a given name, Otis was used in 19th-century America, partly in honor of James Otis and later Elisha Otis. Soul singer Otis Redding made the name cool in the 1960s, and his legacy has contributed to a warm association with soulful, creative spirit. In the 21st century Otis has been revived by hipster-leaning parents who love its retro charm, and it is now a top-300 name in the United States.

Did you know? Elisha Graves Otis, the inventor of the safety elevator in the 1850s, bears this name — and his invention quite literally changed the shape of cities, making skyscrapers possible and revolutionizing urban architecture.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Otis — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

OttoOdo

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Otis Redding (1941–1967)
    American soul singer-songwriter, legendary R&B performer.
  • ★Elisha Otis (1811–1861)
    American inventor of the safety elevator brake and founder of the Otis Elevator Company.

If you like Otis…

Otto— shares the same Germanic root and the same vintage revival in contemporary naming
Oscar— fellow retro two-syllable boy's name enjoying the same hipster-classic renaissance
Felix— shares the same cheerful, short vintage feel and the same early-20th-century peak
Jasper— another retro-cool name from the same revival wave with the same artsy character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Otis mean?

Otis derives from the Germanic element aud meaning wealth or prosperity, via the surname form of Odo or Otto.

How do you pronounce Otis?

It is said OH-tis /ˈoʊ.tɪs/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Otis coming back in fashion?

Yes — Otis has been rising strongly in the U.S. in the 2010s and 2020s as part of a broader vintage-name revival.

Who are famous people named Otis?

The most famous bearers include soul singer Otis Redding and elevator inventor Elisha Otis.