Total births
732
Unisex name · since 1906
Othel
Since 1906, U.S. Social Security records show 732 babies named Othel, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 732
- total births
- 1906–1968
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 33%
- born in that decade
Othel is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 732 have been recorded since 1906.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Othel has been recorded 732 times among boys since 1906, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1906 to 1968.
- 732 total births
- 1906–1968 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 33% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
732 boys have been named Othel since 1906, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1968.
- 732
- total births
- 1906–1968
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 33%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Othel was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
39 babies were named Othel in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Othel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Othel's SSA record in two at 1934 and the more recent half accounts for 32% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 68%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1950, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 39, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Othel at a glance
Last recorded 1968Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1906
Othel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1906–1968
- Peak year (1921)
- 39
- Annual births at peak, across 63 years of records
Othel popularity over time - girls
154 total births recorded since 1913 (Othel as girls' name)
Othel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Othel's strongest decade.
238 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Othel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 18
1900s
18 births
- 1910s
1910s
184 births
- 1920s
1920s
238 births
- 1930s
1930s
126 births
- 1940s
1940s
96 births
- 1950s 39
1950s
39 births
- 1960s 31
1960s
31 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 238 births (33% of all-time use).
How Othel compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Othel's total volume
Othel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Othel by state
Where Othel concentrates geographically, total births since 1906
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arkansas | | 51 | 7.0% |
| #2 | Oklahoma | | 45 | 6.1% |
| #3 | Missouri | | 21 | 2.9% |
| #4 | Texas | | 16 | 2.2% |
| #5 | Alabama | | 11 | 1.5% |
| #6 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.7% |
Arkansas share of Othel's total US births 7.0%
Even split
51 of 732 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Othel? ▼
Othel has been given to 732 babies in the U.S. since 1906, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1968. 39 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
When was Othel most popular? ▼
Othel was most popular in the 1920s decade with 238 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Othel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Othel are Arkansas (51 births), Oklahoma (45 births), Missouri (21 births).
Is Othel a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Othel is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 732 births, and as a girl's name it has 154 births.
How long has the name Othel been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Othel since 1906 -- 63 years through the most recent 1968 data.
What names are similar to Othel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Otha, Otho, Othniel, Othello, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Othel's data
- Othel's decade-level peak was the 1920s (238 total births); usage has since declined to 31 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Arkansas records the most Othels (51 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Arkansas 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 Othel
Nearby Names Like Othel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Othel
Otha Boy
6,386 births
Otho Boy
3,328 births
Othniel Boy
#3708 715 births
Othello Boy
#5681 687 births
Othman Boy
#4018 536 births
Compare Othel side by side: Othel vs Otha Othel vs Otho Othel vs Othniel
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, 1906–1968 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Othel: Baby Name Since 1906 - 732 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/othel. 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 Othel 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.