Boy name · Germanic
Otto
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: wealth, fortuneOtto is a boy's name that comes from Germanic and means "wealth, fortune". It is used in German, English and Scandinavian.
- Meaning
- Wealth, fortune
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #277 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Otto
As a boy's name, Otto comes from Germanic and means "wealth, fortune". It is used in German, English and Scandinavian.
Otto is also a surname: the 1,595th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 21,938 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Otto on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Otto on 9 lists.
“Germanic for wealth, a palindrome, and an AKC top-100 dog name”
From Boy dog names, classic names for male dogs
“Wealth, fortune; Germanic. Otto the Great was crowned emperor in 962”
From Classic boy names, royal and noble boy names
“Wealth, fortune; Germanic, round, friendly and the same backward”
From Cute boy names, short and cute boy names
“Wealth, fortune; Germanic od. Four medieval emperors bore it”
From German boy names, traditional male German names
“Italian for eight, one for every leg”
From Spider names, good spider names
“Wealth, fortune; Germanic. The Great was crowned emperor in 962”
From Medieval names and surnames, medieval German names
“Wealth, fortune; Germanic. A palindrome with Holy Roman roots”
From Old man names, grandpa names coming back for babies
“Short, sweet and reads the same backward”
From Goat names, boy goat names
“Wealth, fortune; Germanic, borne by Holy Roman emperors”
From Unique boy names, unique vintage boy names
How popular is Otto?
- US rank in 2025
- #277
- 1,241 babies, 727 per million boys
- Best rank
- #63 in 1880
- Most babies: 1,244 in 2024
- Babies since 1880
- At least 39,915
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 2,446 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2,229 per million |
| 1900s | 1,286 per million |
| 1910s | 832 per million |
| 1920s | 503 per million |
| 1930s | 297 per million |
| 1940s | 129 per million |
| 1950s | 75 per million |
| 1960s | 58 per million |
| 1970s | 43 per million |
| 1980s | 31 per million |
| 1990s | 31 per million |
| 2000s | 59 per million |
| 2010s | 243 per million |
| 2020s | 630 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #526 | #478 | #431 | #429 | #389 | #335 | #311 | #282 | #274 | #277 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Otto
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- OtisWealth, fortune (Germanic, boy)
- UdoWealth, fortune (Germanic, boy)
Names spelled like Otto
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- OttarDread warrior (Old Norse, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- OttilieWealth, fortune (Germanic, girl)
- FelicitasGood luck, fortune (Latin, girl)
- AbimbolaBorn into wealth (Yoruba, girl)
- AdeolaCrown of wealth (Yoruba, girl)
- AkuchiWealth from God (Igbo, unisex)
- AudWealth (Old Norse, girl)
- AudunWealth and friend (Old Norse, boy)
- AyaanLuck, good fortune (Somali, girl)
- AykutMoon and good fortune (Turkish, boy)
- BahatiLuck, fortune (Swahili, unisex)
Middle names for Otto
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Germanic
- HugoHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
- LiamShort for William, will helmet (Germanic, boy)
- RobertBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- LambertBright land (Germanic, boy)
- LeonardoBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- AlaricRuler of all (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertoNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- ArmandoArmy man (Germanic, boy)
- ArnoEagle (Germanic, boy)
Otto: common questions
What does the name Otto mean?
Otto comes from Germanic and means "wealth, fortune".
Is Otto a boy or girl name?
Otto is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Otto come from?
Otto comes from Germanic and means "wealth, fortune". Today it is used in German, English and Scandinavian.
How popular is the name Otto?
Otto ranked #277 in the US in 2025, with 1,241 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Otto?
Forms of Otto with the same meaning and origin include Otis (English) and Udo (German).
What middle names go with Otto?
Middle names that flow well with Otto include Benjamin, Burton, Constantine, David and Grayson. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.