Home › Baby Names Directory › Otha
Otha
Pronounced OH-thuh /ˈoʊ.θə/Medium
Meaning: Otha is a variant of Otho or Otto, from the Germanic aud or od ('wealth, fortune'). Common in the early-century American South, it turned the old Germanic root into a soft two-syllable name.Low
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 a variant of Otho or Otto, from the Germanic aud ('wealth, fortune'). Common among early-century Southern families, it gave the sturdy old root a gentle -a ending. It peaked around 1920 and later grew rare as such names faded (said 'OH-thuh').
By mid-century Otha had largely left the birth records. It reads today as a homespun old-world name. Sturdy, wealth-rooted, and uncommon.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Otha…
Explore names like Otha
Frequently Asked
What does the name Otha mean?
Otha means 'wealth, fortune', a variant of Otho or Otto from the Germanic aud.
How do you pronounce Otha?
It's said OH-thuh /ˈoʊ.θə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Otha a boy or girl name?
Otha is chiefly a boy's name, a variant of Otho or Otto.
Is Otha making a comeback?
It stays rare, reading as a homespun early-century name.