Otto
Otto is a masculine German given name and a surname. It originates as an Old High German short form of Germanic names beginning in aud-, an element meaning "wealth, prosperity".
- German
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
Meaning & Origin of Otto
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Otto is a masculine German given name and a surname. It originates as an Old High German short form of Germanic names beginning in aud-, an element meaning "wealth, prosperity".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- German
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
- Dutch
- English
- Finnish
- Germanic
- Hungarian
- Icelandic
The Story of Otto
American parents first put Otto on the record books as a baby boy name in 1880, with 271 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 1,356 Ottos were born — ranking #256 that year. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #256 among baby boy names with 1,356 births, rising sharply (+62% over the past five years). In total, more than 41K Ottos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Otto
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Otto. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Audo
- Odo
- Udo
Names that sound like Otto
Phonetically similar names — useful when Otto is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Otto
What does the name Otto mean?
What is the origin of the name Otto?
How popular is Otto in 2026?
When was Otto most popular?
In which U.S. states is Otto most popular?
Is Otto a unisex name?
What names go well with Otto?
What are nicknames or variants of Otto?
About the name Otto
Otto is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 41K births in the dataset. Otto's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #63. Use the chart and map above to compare Otto's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "O" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.