Otis
A patronymic surname derived from Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en (English)' does not match the L2 header (Translingual).
Every Otis since 1880 — 61,969 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Otis
Otis is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #652 in 2025 with 422 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 61,969 American babies have been named Otis. Its peak came in 1920, when 1,056 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Otis stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Otis year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 422 | #652 |
| 2024 | — | — | 359 | #733 |
| 2023 | — | — | 420 | #651 |
| 2022 | — | — | 456 | #615 |
| 2021 | — | — | 427 | #647 |
| 2020 | — | — | 413 | #648 |
| 2019 | — | — | 351 | #706 |
| 2018 | — | — | 325 | #736 |
| 2017 | — | — | 319 | #744 |
| 2016 | — | — | 324 | #752 |
| 2015 | — | — | 266 | #845 |
| 2014 | — | — | 203 | #1,010 |
| 2013 | — | — | 177 | #1,064 |
| 2012 | — | — | 183 | #1,048 |
| 2011 | — | — | 144 | #1,217 |
| 2010 | — | — | 122 | #1,381 |
| 2009 | — | — | 131 | #1,328 |
| 2008 | — | — | 120 | #1,412 |
| 2007 | — | — | 112 | #1,442 |
| 2006 | — | — | 107 | #1,450 |
| 2005 | — | — | 106 | #1,408 |
| 2004 | — | — | 80 | #1,626 |
| 2003 | — | — | 78 | #1,627 |
| 2002 | — | — | 82 | #1,527 |
| 2001 | — | — | 115 | #1,189 |
| 2000 | — | — | 97 | #1,330 |
| 1995 | — | — | 114 | #1,050 |
| 1990 | — | — | 213 | #699 |
| 1985 | — | — | 203 | #614 |
| 1980 | — | — | 296 | #492 |
| 1975 | — | — | 330 | #435 |
| 1970 | 9 | #5,691 | 496 | #367 |
| 1965 | — | — | 472 | #351 |
| 1960 | 9 | #4,682 | 556 | #326 |
| 1955 | 12 | #3,521 | 721 | #259 |
| 1950 | 11 | #3,370 | 831 | #221 |
| 1945 | 11 | #2,874 | 706 | #205 |
| 1940 | 6 | #4,235 | 661 | #200 |
| 1935 | 13 | #2,410 | 730 | #182 |
| 1930 | 15 | #2,277 | 831 | #172 |
| 1925 | 14 | #2,587 | 958 | #159 |
| 1920 | 25 | #1,692 | 1,031 | #146 |
| 1915 | 16 | #2,028 | 901 | #141 |
| 1910 | 19 | #1,022 | 285 | #109 |
| 1905 | 5 | #2,162 | 216 | #99 |
| 1900 | 15 | #1,002 | 212 | #110 |
| 1895 | — | — | 133 | #127 |
| 1890 | — | — | 119 | #122 |
| 1885 | — | — | 89 | #152 |
| 1880 | — | — | 88 | #156 |
Famous people named Otis
- Otis Redding Singer · 1941–1967
- Otis Rush Musician · 1934–2018
- Otis Spann Musician · 1924–1970
- Otis Davis Athlete · b. 1932
- Otis Blackwell Musician · 1931–2002
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Otis mean?
A patronymic surname derived from Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en (English)' does not match the L2 header (Translingual).
How popular is the name Otis in 2025?
Otis ranked #652 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 422 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Otis?
61,969 babies have been named Otis in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Otis most popular?
Otis peaked in 1920, when 1,056 newborns received the name.
Is Otis a boy or girl name?
Otis is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Otis rising or falling?
Otis is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Otis?
Well-known people named Otis include Otis Redding (singer), Otis Rush (musician), Otis Spann (musician).