How to say it
OT · to
ˈɑː.toʊ
Masculine
Otto
Wealth, fortune
What it means
Germanic, from a root (auda) meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune.' A short, sturdy name with imperial history.
Otto comes from the Germanic element auda, 'wealth' or 'fortune,' and was the name of Holy Roman Emperors starting with Otto the Great in the 10th century. The tidy palindrome fell out of American use mid-20th century and is now back with the short-and-vintage crowd alongside Hugo and Theo. History stacks up behind it, from Otto von Bismarck to Otto Frank, Anne Frank's father. It rarely needs a nickname.
How to spell Otto
The standard spelling is Otto. Common variants include Otho, Othello, but Otto is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #63 in 1880, currently #277 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A palindrome, which is part of its tidy, retro appeal.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Otto the Great 10th-century Holy Roman Emperor
- Otto Frank Anne Frank's father and the publisher of her diary
Spelling variants
- Otho
- Othello
Names with the same feeling
See Otto from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Otto mean?
- Germanic, from a root (auda) meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune.' A short, sturdy name with imperial history.
- What does Otto mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Otto means "Wealth, fortune." Otto comes from the Germanic element auda, 'wealth' or 'fortune,' and was the name of Holy Roman Emperors starting with Otto the Great in the 10th century. The tidy palindrome fell out of American use mid-20th century and is now back with the short-and-vintage crowd alongside Hugo and Theo. History stacks up behind it, from Otto von Bismarck to Otto Frank, Anne Frank's father. It rarely needs a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Otto?
- Otto is pronounced ˈɑː.toʊ. Say it as OT-to, with the stress on the "ot" syllable.
- How do you spell Otto?
- The standard spelling is Otto. Common spelling variants include Otho, Othello.
- Is Otto a boy or girl name?
- Otto is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Otto?
- Otto ranked #277 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.