Otniel is a distinctive and uncommon given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the phrase "ot" meaning "strength" or "might," and "Yael," which translates to "ibex" or "roebuck." This name has historical significance as it appears in the Bible, associated with Othniel son of Kenaz, a courageous warrior who played a pivotal role during the early years of the Israelites' settlement in Canaan.
The name Otniel experienced a notable spike in popularity between 2017 and 2018, with the number of births nearly tripling from 6 to 22 during that period. Prior to this sudden increase, the annual birth counts were consistently low, ranging from 5 to 7 births per year. After 2018, the popularity of the name seemed to decrease again, with only 7 births in 2019 and 5 births in 2022. Overall, there have been a total of 123 recorded births with the name Otniel since 1980.