Total births
1,184
Girls' name · since 1880
Otelia
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 1,184 babies named Otelia, peaking in 1923. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,184
- total births
- 1880–1982
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
Otelia sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,184 recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Otelia recorded 1,184 times among girls since 1880, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 1982.
- 1,184 total births
- 1880–1982 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 21% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,184 girls have been named Otelia since 1880, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1982.
- 1,184
- total births
- 1880–1982
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Otelia was born in this single decade.
1923
Single peak year
35 babies were named Otelia in 1923 - its busiest year on record.
Otelia's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Otelia splits its recorded history at 1928: 42% of all births land in the more recent half, 58% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1882 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1923 peak of 35 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Otelia at a glance
Last recorded 1982Peak year
1923
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Otelia popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–1982
- Peak year (1923)
- 35
- Annual births at peak, across 103 years of records
Otelia by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Otelia's strongest decade.
249 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Otelia births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 17
1880s
17 births
- 1890s 83
1890s
83 births
- 1900s
1900s
146 births
- 1910s
1910s
235 births
- 1920s
1920s
249 births
- 1930s
1930s
163 births
- 1940s
1940s
131 births
- 1950s 87
1950s
87 births
- 1960s 53
1960s
53 births
- 1970s 13
1970s
13 births
- 1980s 7
1980s
7 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 249 births (21% of all-time use).
How Otelia compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Otelia's total volume
Otelia vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Otelia by state
Where Otelia concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Virginia | | 233 | 19.7% |
| #2 | North Carolina | | 62 | 5.2% |
| #3 | Texas | | 10 | 0.8% |
Virginia share of Otelia's total US births 19.7%
Even split
233 of 1,184 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Otelia? ▼
Otelia has been given to 1,184 babies in the U.S. since 1880, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1982. 35 babies were born in 1923, its single highest year.
When was Otelia most popular? ▼
Otelia was most popular in the 1920s decade with 249 total births. The single peak year was 1923.
Where is Otelia most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Otelia are Virginia (233 births), North Carolina (62 births), Texas (10 births).
How long has the name Otelia been used? ▼
Otelia has been recorded in Social Security data since 1880, spanning 103 years of data through 1982.
What names are similar to Otelia? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Otella, Oteria, Oteka. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Otelia's data
- Otelia's decade-level peak was the 1920s (249 total births); usage has since declined to 7 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Virginia records the most Otelias (233 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Virginia names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Otelia
Nearby Names Like Otelia
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Otelia
Compare Otelia side by side: Otelia vs Otella Otelia vs Oteria Otelia vs Oteka
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–1982 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Otelia: Baby Name Since 1880 - 1,184 Births, Peak 1923." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/otelia. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Otelia draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.