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Otis as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Otis

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The baby name Otis is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈoʊ.tɪs/ (OH-tis).

Otis is English in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /ˈoʊ.tɪs/ (OH-tis)

What is the meaning of the name Otis ?

The baby name Otis is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈoʊ.tɪs/ (OH-tis).

Otis is English in Origin.

Otis is an English given name that began as a surname. It derives from the medieval personal name Ote/Ode - cognate with Germanic Odo and Otto - built on the element aud- meaning “wealth, fortune, prosperity.” The -s reflects the genitive (“Ode’s”), common in Middle English surnames that later turned into first names. As such, Otis carries connotations of resourcefulness and good fortune.

Used in the United States since the 19th century, Otis was reinforced in public awareness by inventor Elisha Otis of elevator fame and later by soul singer Otis Redding, giving it a sturdy yet soulful image. After a mid‑century lull, it has seen revival in the UK and US alongside other vintage choices. Variants and related forms include Odis and Ottis (English), and the cognates Otto (German/Scandinavian) and Odo; feminine counterparts include Oda and Ottilie.

Otis has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Otis

Otis Rush Musician · Born 1935 · United States Otis Rush was a musician from the United States, best known for his powerful blues guitar playing and soulful voice. He gained fame with songs like 'I Can't Quit You Baby' and 'Double Trouble', which became blues standards. Born in 1935, his style influenced many future blues and rock musicians. Madlib Musician · Born 1973 · United States Otis Lee Jackson Jr., better known as Madlib, is an American DJ, record producer, and rapper best known for his inventive underground hip-hop work. He’s especially known for acclaimed projects like Madvillainy with Madvillain, Piñata with Freddie Gibbs, and Shades of Blue. Otis Spann Musician · Born 1930 · United States Otis Spann was a prominent American blues musician, best known for his work as a pianist with the Muddy Waters band. He played a key role in shaping the Chicago blues sound and recorded notable tracks like 'It Must Have Been the Devil' and 'Spann's Boogie'.
Otis Clay Musician · Born 1942 · United States Otis Clay was a talented American musician best known for his work in the soul and gospel genres. He gained fame with songs like 'Trying to Live My Life Without You' and 'The Only Way Is Up'. His powerful voice and emotional performances left a lasting impact on the music scene. Otis Taylor Musician · Born 1948 · United States Otis Taylor is a musician from the United States, best known for his unique blend of blues, jazz, and folk music. Born in 1948, he has captivated audiences with songs like 'Ten Million Slaves' and 'Nasty Letter'.

Celebrity babies named Otis

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Otis Maguire Tobey Maguire television actor
Otis Sudeikis Olivia Wilde film director Jason Sudeikis television actor
Otis Shinoda Mike Shinoda singer
Otis Hagen Nina Hagen singer
Otis Redding III Otis Redding singer
Otis Ferry Lucy Helmore model Bryan Ferry musician

Otis – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 836
Germany Boys 2025 #1 423
BW 0 #19 1 960
Belgium Boys 2024 #32 199 401
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
CM 0 #56 1 2,592
Sweden Boys 2022 #73 139 1,509
CN 0 #86 1 3,857
JM 0 #88 6 3,714
TW 0 #100 4 4,523
Switzerland Boys 2024 #130 8 1,769
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
BW Boys 0 #140 10 4,685
JM Boys 0 #158 124 6,876
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
MT Boys 0 #176 4 4,064
TW Boys 0 #220 22 7,111
MO Boys 0 #229 6 5,842
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
GH 0 #245 4 5,396
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
Canada Boys 2024 #257 50 2,588
NG 0 #267 6 5,926
JM Girls 0 #277 2 7,507
JP Boys 0 #302 2 7,909
AL Boys 0 #303 1 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
GH Boys 0 #322 24 8,138
CN Boys 0 #325 7 9,639
DK Boys 0 #331 2 7,401
PL Boys 0 #339 2 6,459
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
France Boys 2021 #364 24 2,865
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
YE 0 #398 1 8,639
PH Boys 0 #407 2 11,440
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
PH Girls 0 #429 1 13,098
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
ZA 0 #472 3 14,421
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
CR Boys 0 #503 8 10,188
PA Boys 0 #504 2 9,305
HK Boys 0 #510 18 12,905
PA Girls 0 #516 3 9,861
RU Boys 0 #521 6 12,621
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
CM Boys 0 #524 27 12,054
LY 0 #558 2 12,703
CM Girls 0 #559 2 11,671
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
United States Boys 2024 #566 358 7,044
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
BO Boys 0 #621 2 9,244
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
Finland Boys 2026 #670 13 3,552
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
NG Girls 0 #777 10 15,093
KW Boys 0 #805 2 18,755
TN 0 #865 1 13,765
NG Boys 0 #882 70 16,906
NL Boys 0 #902 50 5,873
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
Spain Boys 0 #919 12 5,610
PE Boys 0 #923 4 14,506
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
Germany Boys 0 #932 21 5,697
CO Boys 0 #977 5 15,656
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
PE Girls 0 #1,010 1 14,861
MX Boys 0 #1,026 8 16,355
CO Girls 0 #1,069 10 16,140
ZA Boys 0 #1,114 65 25,619
AE Boys 0 #1,142 2 22,615
DZ 0 #1,167 10 20,130
MY Boys 0 #1,181 2 25,439
MA 0 #1,193 7 20,986
ZA Girls 0 #1,230 7 25,928
TR 0 #1,252 3 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,264 4 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,406 66 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,687 5 28,008

Otis is popular in 61 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
France
Flanders, Belgium
Switzerland

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People also ask about Otis

Otis is predominantly a boy's name.
Otis is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈoʊ.tɪs/ (OH-tis).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Ottis, Odis and Otys.
Yes, very popular — Otis ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Otis ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Otis's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #691 in 2014 to #566 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — 5 notable people named Otis are in our database, including Otis Rush (Musician), Madlib (Musician), Otis Spann (Musician).
Yes — at least 6 celebrity couples have chosen Otis for their child, including Tobey Maguire.