The baby name Ottilie blends medieval roots with current style.
Thanks to Lola for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF OTTILIE?
Plenty of names come from the Germanic element odo, meaning wealth, prosperity, or fortune. Otto is the most obvious.
Ottilie is a feminine form of Odo – one of many.
Worth noting: some argue the name could come from the Old German uodil, meaning heritage.
But typically, it’s part of a sprawling family of names, including:
- Palindrome name Otto, an obvious derivation from odo.
- Spirited Otis, which started out as a surname.
- The name Odilia was probably an early feminine form, worn by an eighth-century nun. It’s said Saint Odilia – or maybe Odila – was born blind, but miraculously gained sight following her baptism.
- The similar Ottilia is also sometimes heard.
- Odile and Odette are famous from the ballet Swan Lake, as well as the Oscar-winning 2010 movie Black Swan.
- British-sounding Ottoline remains known thanks to the legacy of Lady Ottoline Morrell, an early 1900s patron of the arts, known for hosting many of the leading thinkers during the first World War and post-war era in England.
- And then there’s the baby name Ottilie, which sounds French but is generally considered German. Odilie might be an older form.
FAMOUS OTTILIES: FICTIONAL AND REAL
Most of the early women known by the name were, in fact, German.
- Ottilie Assing was born in Hamburg. A writer and journalist known for her feminisit and abolitionist beliefs, she moved to the United States and wrote for European publications. As part of her work, she interviewed Frederick Douglass. The two had a long and tumultous relationship, spanning decades.
- Nineteenth-century Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson penned a short poemTo Ottilie. It’s not clear who the inspiration was for the poem’s name; Stevenson’s wife was known as Fanny.
- A German socialite, the Baroness Ottilie von Goethe was the daughter-in-law of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. She was known for her assistance to the famous writer as he finished Faust.
- German silent film star Tilla Durieux was born Ottilie Godeffroy.
- Ottilie Metzger was a Frankfurt-born opera singer well known in the early 1900s.
- Irish-born jazz singer Ottilie Patterson found success in the 1950s and 60s. She was actually born Anna Ottilie, but dropped her first name.
- Known as Tilly Losch, Vienna-born dancer turned actress turned painter eventually married and became the Countess of Carnarvon.
The name faded as the twentieth century progressed, but it didn’t disappear entirely.
- Truman Capote gave the name to a character in his 1950 short story “The House of Flowers.” It became a musical in 1954.
- Another short story, “Random Quest” was published in 1961, by British author John Wyndham. A 1971 adaptation starred Joan Collins as the character named Ottilie Harshom.
HOW IS OTTILIE PRONOUNCED?
So while Ottilie recalls French origin names like Rosalie and Sylvie, Ottilie is traditionally big in Germany.
That means the name’s traditional pronunciation is more like oh TEEL ee ah.
English language speakers, of course, would sound it out and say something more like ot-i-lee. Except Americans tend to say Ts more like Ds: ahd-ah-lee, almost like Adalie.
In Britian, the T is enunciated, making Ottilie and Adalie two different names.
Perhaps pronunciation is the reason Ottilie is a Top 100 favorite in England and Wales.
In the US, it’s nearly unknown.
That wasn’t always the case. Circa 1890, this name appeared in the Top 1000 with other vintage gems: Zenobia, Eulalie, Rosamund.
The baby name Ottilie last appeared in the US rankings in 1904.
But lately that’s changing. The name was given to 80 girls in the US in 2024. That marks a new high. In fact, the name quadrupled in use from 2020..
One possible reason for the rise: influencer Jordan Haase welcomed twins in March of 2023 named Archie Calvin Cole and Ottilie Campbell Marie.
OTTILIE NICKNAMES
Another benefit to Ottilie: plenty of nicknames.
Tillie or Tilly is the obvious choice. But it might also shorten to Lottie, Ollie, Otti/Ottie, or even, for something playful, Otter.
OVERLOOKED GEM
Another O-name, Olivia, has been a fast favorite in the US and Europe for most of the twenty-first century. No surprise, then, that O names like Octavia and Ophelia, Oliver and Owen, feel equally stylish. We also love a good three-syllable, ends-with-EE FIXLINK name for girls. The gently French Elodie is currently racing up the popularity charts.
Maybe that opens the door for Ottilie.
It’s a name that feels antique and a little bit dusty, but undeniably pretty – an overlooked gem that deserves a closer look.
What do you think of the name Ottilie?
First published on July 10, 2008. It was revised on September 24, 2012; November 26, 2024; and October 14, 2025.
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! 🙂
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.
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.
Ah, but we love you for saying what you think. 😉
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.
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.
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! 🙂
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.
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?
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!