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At a Glance: Name: Otis – Meaning: a patronymic meaning 'son of Ote/Ode', a name cognate with Otto – Origin: English (patronymic surname, from a Germanic given name) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: OH-tis
Otis (pronounced OH-tis) is an English patronymic name meaning 'son of Ote/Ode,' cognate with Otto. It's a boy's name with a clean, modern, vintage feel. You may come across a claim that Otis is Greek for 'keen of hearing' — that's not accurate; the name's roots trace instead to this English patronymic origin.
Meaning & Origin of Otis
Meaning: A patronymic meaning 'son of ote/ode', a name cognate with otto.
Origin: English (patronymic surname, from a Germanic given name).
A common claim: Otis is sometimes claimed to be a Greek name meaning 'keen of hearing.' Actually: That Greek derivation isn't supported here — Otis is actually an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Ote/Ode,' cognate with Otto.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Otis
Phonetic: OH-tis IPA: /ˈoʊtɪs/
Popularity of Otis
Otis peaked at #94 in 1899, when 185 baby boys were given the name. By 2024 it had settled at #730, with a count of 358, according to Social Security Administration data spanning 1880 to 2024.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Otis Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Otis, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Otis mean?
A patronymic meaning ‘son of ote/ode’, a name cognate with otto. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Otis)
How do you pronounce Otis?
Otis is pronounced OH-tis (IPA: /ˈoʊtɪs/).
Is Otis a popular name right now?
Otis peaked at #94 in 1899 and is ranked #730 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Otis? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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