Otto
How to say it: AH-toh · /ˈɑtoʊ/
From Old High German 'aud' meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune'; a classic medieval name borne by several Holy Roman Emperors.
Otto was the 288th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,241 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are up 2.4-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #197 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #288 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,241 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,671 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.4 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #197 |
| In France, 2025 | #889 among boys’ names, 30 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Following a quiet stretch through the 1980s, Otto returned and now sits well below its 1880s high. The outlook points upward from here.
What goes with it
Compact and crisp, Otto has an old world charm that feels sturdy. Hugo goes well with it, as does August.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Otto is about 1 in 112.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish.
In France: #889 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #117. Ireland: #425.
Famous people named Otto
- Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898)German statesman and Chancellor
- Otto Hahn (1879–1968)German chemist and physicist
- Otto I the Great (912–973)Holy Roman Emperor from 962 to 973
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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