Ottis is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is believed to have been created by author William Faulkner for one of his characters in his novel "Absalom, Absalom!" published in 1936. In the story, Ottis is the illegitimate son of Thomas Sutpen, the protagonist of the novel.
The meaning and significance behind the name Ottis are unclear as it was not derived from any existing names or words. Faulkner may have created the name for literary purposes, perhaps to emphasize the unconventional background and identity of his character. However, some people associate the name Ottis with the Greek word "otos," which means "ear," due to its phonetic similarity.
Despite its obscure origin, Ottis has gained some popularity as a given name in the United States. According to data from the Social Security Administration, the peak of its usage was between 1920 and 1929, with only a handful of births registered with the name each year since then. Today, it remains a rare and uncommon name.
In summary, Ottis is a unique given name of American origin, created by author William Faulkner for one of his characters. Its meaning and significance are unclear, but some people associate it with the Greek word "otos." While it has gained some popularity in the past, it remains a rare name today.
The name Ottis experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a substantial increase in its usage from the late 19th century onwards. Between 1880 and 1967, there were several periods of relative stability in the number of births per year, ranging between 5 to 20 births annually. However, after reaching a peak of 46 births in 1967, there was a dramatic decline, with fewer than 20 births recorded each year from 1968 onwards.
The lowest point occurred in 1974, with only 11 births registered that year. Since then, the name Ottis has continued to see minimal usage, typically with less than 15 births per year. There were notable spikes in popularity in recent years, such as 20 births in 2008 and 14 births in both 2016 and 2022, but overall, the name Ottis remains quite uncommon. As of 2023, it has been recorded that there were 11 births with this name. In total, over the span of 142 years (from 1880 to 2022), a combined total of 4,444 babies have been named Ottis.