Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Otto
BoyGermanic, German· “wealth”
- Meaning
- wealth
- Origin
- Germanic, German
- Pronunciation
- AH-toh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #277
- US babies 2025
- 1,241
- Best rank
- #63 (1880)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Otto
Otto is a Germanic and German name that means “wealth”.
Otto comes from the Germanic element aud, meaning wealth or fortune. It was borne by several Holy Roman Emperors, beginning with Otto the Great in the tenth century, and later by a king of Greece. The name remained common in Germany, Austria and Scandinavia, and German immigrants brought it to the United States. Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian statesman, is another famous bearer. Its short, symmetrical spelling reads the same backward and forward. Today it feels quirky, strong and vintage.
Popularity over time
Otto has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 109 different years. Its best national rank was #63 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 2024, when 1,244 were named Otto. In 2025, 1,241 babies were named Otto, and it ranked #277 nationally. That is 136% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #206 in 1920, #552 in 1950, #1,285 in 1980, #1,796 in 2000, #1,079 in 2010, and #277 in 2025. Of the 39,915 US boys named Otto since records began, 16% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 5,552 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Bodie, Benson, Jensen, Koa, and Saint.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Otto ranked highest in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #59 | 18 |
| South Dakota | #91 | 14 |
| Minnesota | #93 | 69 |
| Wyoming | #115 | 5 |
| Wisconsin | #122 | 51 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Otto is usually pronounced AH-toh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with O and ends in “-to”.
Middle names for Otto
A few middle names that flow with Otto: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Otto
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Lists that include Otto
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Otto mean?
Otto is a Germanic and German name that means “wealth”.
What is the origin of the name Otto?
Otto has Germanic and German roots. Otto comes from the Germanic element aud, meaning wealth or fortune.
Is Otto a popular name?
Yes. Otto ranked #277 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Otto a boy or girl name?
Otto is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Otto?
Otto is usually pronounced AH-toh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings