Otha

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Otha

Pronounced OH-thuh /ˈoʊ.θə/Medium

Meaning: Otha is an early-American name of uncertain origin, most plausibly a feminine offshoot of the Germanic Otho or Otto ('wealth', 'fortune'); it appears in both girls' and boys' records in the rural South around 1900.Low

In 30 seconds: Otha is an early-1900s American name, most likely a feminine form of Otho or Otto (said 'OH-thuh').

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Origin LowAmerican, Germanic

MeaningOtha is an early-American name of uncertain origin, most plausibly a feminine offshoot of the Germanic Otho or Otto ('wealth', 'fortune'); it appears in both girls' and boys' records in the rural South around 1900.

U.S. rank (1971)#5867 ↗ Rising

1971 U.S. births9 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1922

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,403

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Otha is one of the short vintage names that appear in Southern birth records around 1900, used for both girls and boys. Its most likely thread runs back to the Germanic Otho or Otto, names built on a root meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune'.

It was always scarce, peaking in the early nineteen-twenties at a few dozen girls a year and thinning to rarity by mid-century. It reads as a genuine Southern antique and has not featured in the recent revival of old names.

Did you know? Otha was a name of the early-twentieth-century South, cresting around 1922 at only a few dozen girls a year before fading by mid-century.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Otha — early-American; likely feminine Otho/Otto, uncertain

Variations

OthoOthella

Nicknames

Ottie

Famous Bearers

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If you like Otha…

Ola— a matching short vintage girl's name

Oma— same spare early-1900s sound

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Otha mean?

Otha is an early-American name, most likely a feminine offshoot of the Germanic Otho or Otto.

How do you pronounce Otha?

It's said OH-thuh /ˈoʊ.θə/ — two syllables.

Is Otha a boy or girl name?

Otha is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Otha?

Otha was always uncommon and is a genuine early-twentieth-century Southern name, scarce since mid-century.