Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Othella
Othella
How to Pronounce Othella
Pronounced oh-THEL-uh /oΚΛΞΈΙl.Ι/Medium
Meaning: Othella is a feminine form of Othello, the name Shakespeare gave the tragic Moor of Venice. Othello itself is of uncertain origin, likely a diminutive of a Germanic name built on the element od, 'wealth' or 'prosperity'. As a girls' name Othella is a rare literary-flavored coinage.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Othella takes Shakespeare's Othello and adds a feminine -a, in the same way Marcella comes from Marcellus. Othello's own roots are debated, usually traced to a Germanic diminutive on od, 'wealth', and Othella carries that uncertain sense along with its literary echo.
It was always rare β a few dozen girls a year at most around its faint nineteen-twenties peak β and appears especially in early-century African American communities. It reads as a dramatic, uncommon vintage name and has not revived in any real numbers.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Othellaβ¦
Explore names like Othella
Frequently Asked
What does the name Othella mean?
Othella is a feminine form of Othello, a literary name of uncertain, possibly Germanic origin.
How do you pronounce Othella?
It's said oh-THEL-uh /oΚΛΞΈΙl.Ι/ β three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Othella a boy or girl name?
Othella is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Othella?
Othella is rare, a vintage literary-flavored name most seen in the early twentieth century.