Thanks to Lola for suggesting a rare gem indeed for today’s Name of the Day: Ottilie.
While she’s spent much of the 20th century in exile, we find her sound terribly appealing and yes, maybe even surprisingly modern.
Scroll through the Top 1000 names for girls in the US circa 1890, and you’ll notice a bunch of interesting monikers that have all but gone extinct: Zenobia, Eulalie, Rosamond, Tilda and yes, Ottilie. Once uncommon but not outlandish, some of these 19th century appellations now sound positively daring. Ottilie last charted in the US Top 1000 in 1905, and she is equally rare across the globe.
Pronounced OT teeh lee, this is yet another variation of the German Odo, meaning wealth or fortune, like Otto and past Name of the Day Otis. Ottilie is one of several feminizations. Odilia was the name of an 8th century nun, said to have been born blind, but had her sight miraculously restored during her baptism. The French Odile (pronounced oh DEEL) and Odette (oh DET) appear in the ballet Swan Lake.
In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, several smart and artistic Ottilies gained recognition. German feminist writer and abolitionist Ottilie Assing had a long and tumultuous affair with Frederick Douglass. German actress Ottilie Godeffroy appeared on screen in silent films as Tilla Durieux. And Ottilie Metzger was a Frankfurt-born opera singer well known in the early 1900s. Irish born jazz singer Ottilie Patterson is probably the last of the well known bearers of the name, with her career at its peak in the 1950s and 60s. She was actually born Anna Ottilie, but dropped her first name.
19th century Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson even penned a short poem To Ottilie. It’s not clear who the inspiration was for the poem’s name; Stevenson’s wife went by the humble moniker Fanny. Still, it lends the name a bit of literary cred.
It’s an unusual choice, but offers the simple nickname Tilly, or perhaps Tilla, as preferred by the actress. We love the rhythm of this name, and the bright O at the top. It’s clearly feminine, but not even a little bit flimsy, and would complement a simple surname. It also seems like a great pick for the middle spot, easily sparking up classics like Elizabeth or Grace.
Best of all? This is one of those rare choices that will likely remain underused into the future. Unless, of course, Brad and Angelina bestow it on one of their twins, in which case, all bets are off.
My parents had a print of that Stevenson poem (My Dad was huge on all things Scottish, *sigh*) and I think that’s where I first saw it. I’ve loved it since. Metzger is also a known for me. I adore Opera. I do love what is actually the nickname form: Ottoline a bit more but I occasionally waffle between the two. I find Ottilie light and crisp and yes, a current sound. That open AH , that cute -lee ending. What’s not to love?
I find this is another polarising name… folks either love it or hate it. But Ottilie/Ottoline is definitely our front runner, for another girl. The Tilley surname (A Mayflower name) is, for him, THE family surname of surnames and Ottilie/Ottiline easily becomes Tillie. Hence, honoring by sound (Tilley’s too surnamey for a name). I’m also toying with Tillo for a boy. I think it would take just one cute little Ottilie/Ottoline to warm folks to her name!
Once I saw the title, my first thought was “That’s Lola’s name!”
I like it; it’s very cheery, as you said. It’s just a sunny name. The O beginning is right there with current trends, too. An Ottilie would stand out, but still fit in with the Kaylee’s and whatnot. This is one of the few names with a ee ending that doesn’t sound unbearably cutesy to me. Thumbs up on Ottolie. Odile, however, reminds me of the spanish word odiar, meaning to hate, or the word odor, or odious. It actually sounds like a synonym for odious. 
Anyone else think of that?
I have liked this name ever since I read a book that was dedicated to an Ottilie many moons ago so I’m glad to see it getting a mention, I had heard it was pronouced Oat-il-ie which really put me off so I’m surprised but pleased to hear that its not
Personally, my only niggle with Ottilie is that Tilly is becoming super popular in the UK so I would be hesitant to revert to that nickname.
Katherine, I’ve been toying with other nicknames (I’m a Yank, so the popularity of Tilly doesn’t bother me any), but just in case she wanted options, I wanted to think what they might be. I’ve come up with Ottie/Tottie (Thank You Wallace & Gromit!) and Leelee, or heck, if I wanna stetch it: Leelo (reverse the sounds of the name) . So there are a few other, less obvious options for you!
Ooh, I love Leelo! But I’m still fond of Tilly.
Katharine, I didn’t realize Tilly was so hot in the UK. Is it a nickname for Matilda, or bestowed independently?
As for Odile, isn’t she the bad guy in Swan Lake? I don’t remember the details, but I’m pretty sure that she ends badly – and so the similarity to odious isn’t inappropriate.
Sounds too much like “oddly” for me. I can’t swing with this name. It definitely is one that I would widen my eyes at if someone introduced their daughter or theirself as Ottilie. (That sentence escaped my grasp of good grammar somehow.)
Sorry to be such a downer, but it seeems I’m always the dissenting vote. Ah well, on to the next one.
Ah, but we love you for saying what you think.
I adore Ottilie, but you’re not alone, Another, in hearing “oddly.” In my case, I keep hearing “oddity.” Still, it’s a rhythmic choice with loads of charm. I’m actually really interested in another name you compared it to: EULALIE. Any chance that she might reign as name of the day in the near future? For that matter, Rosamond and Zenobia are pretty fascinating as well. But I already bestowed Zenobia as the middle name for my dog.
I wanted to leave a comment at Basil, but it says it’s closed for comments. Oh well. Here goes: Basil brings to mind Fawlty Towers, my homemade spaghetti sauce, and not much else.
Also, Eulalie? To me Eulalie has gone to the name graveyard, along with Gertrude, Bertha, and Ethel.
Me too, as I finally got on.
Sad. I quite like Basil (yet another great uncle Vasiliy could be honored) but alas. It also, like Another, makes me think of John Cleese. I love John Cleese. Basil would fit right in my neighborhood, with Arthur, Cyril, Caleb, Lucan & Fritz, all under 2. Warm, friendly (and yes, yummy) Basil gets a winning ribbon from me!
And Eulalie? Wel, Elisabeth knows I do love it, even if it doesn’t work for me. I think it’s melodious and easy on the eyes. Eulalie’s no pushover either. Light & airy but no airhead!
Have another request for a NotD, if possible: Zuleika. It’s my other half’s favorite, favorite name and it’s starting to appeal to me as well. I know about Zuleika Dobson (required reading in 10th grade assured that) and I found a fairled musical and a type of butterfly as well. I’d love to see what other things you could pull up on Zuleika. You amaze me!
Sorry about the Basil drama! I would never, ever, ever close for comments! Intentionally.
Fawlty Towers – d’oh! Completely forgot about Fawlty Towers!
Eulalie will be August 5 and Zuleika August 9. There’s a celeb with a baby Eulalie, but I can’t recall *who* it is at the moment. Zuleika, though – that’s gonna be a wild one!
Marcia Gay Harden has a Eulalia, with an A at the end.
Thanks for making her the NotD! I look forward to it.
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