Otis is a male given name derived from an

English surname English names are personal names used in, or originating in, England. In England, as elsewhere in the English-speaking world, a complete name usually consists of one or more given names, commonly referred to as first names, and a (most commonly ...

, which was in turn derived from Ode, a variant form of

Odo Odo is a name typically associated with historical figures from the Middle Ages and before. Odo is etymologically related to the names Otho and Otto, and to the French name Odon and modern version Eudes, and to the Italian names Ottone and Udo; a ...

and

Otto Otto is a masculine German given name and a surname. It originates as an Old High German short form (variants '' Audo'', '' Odo'', '' Udo'') of Germanic names beginning in ''aud-'', an element meaning "wealth, prosperity". The name is recorded fr ...

.{{citation needed, date=November 2016 The name also has origins in the ''

Ars Goetia ''The Lesser Key of Solomon'', also known by its Latin title ''Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis'' or simply the ''Lemegeton'', is an anonymously authored grimoire on sorcery, mysticism and magic. It was compiled in the mid-17th century from mate ...

'', it is a variation of the name

Botis Botis, sometimes Otis, is a demon described in the ''Lesser Key of Solomon'' (as the seventeenth spirit) and the ''Pseudomonarchia Daemonum'' (as the ninth spirit) as a President and an Earl who initially appears as a viper before changing into a ...

. Otis is also a male nickname from Otieno, with its roots in the Luo tribe in Kenya.

People

Otis Armstrong Otis D. Armstrong (November 15, 1950 – October 13, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the first round with the ninth overall pick in the 1973 NFL ...

(1950–2021), American football player * Otis Birdsong (born 1955), American former National Basketball Association player, member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame * Otis R. Bowen (1918–2013), American politician *Otis Brayboy (born 1970), American storyboard artist and animator *

Otis Chandler Otis Chandler (November 23, 1927 – February 27, 2006) was the publisher of the ''Los Angeles Times'' between 1960 and 1980, leading a large expansion of the newspaper and its ambitions. He was the fourth and final member of the Chandler fami ...

(1927–2006), American newspaper publisher *

Otis Clay Otis Lee Clay (February 11, 1942 – January 8, 2016) was an American R&B and soul singer, who started in gospel music. In 2013, Clay was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame. Early life Clay was born in Waxhaw, Mississippi, to a musical fami ...

(1942–2016), American R&B and soul singer *

Otis Davis Otis Crandall Davis (July 12, 1932 – September 14, 2024) was an American athlete, winner of two gold medals for record-breaking performances in the 400 m and 4 × 400 m relay at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He set a new wor ...

(born 1932), American sprinter and world 400 m record holder *

Otis Dudley Duncan Otis Dudley Duncan (December 2, 1921 in Nocona, Texas – November 16, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California) was an American sociologist and statistician. According to sociologist and statistician Leo Goodman he was "the most important quantita ...

(1921–2004), American sociologist *

Otis Dozovic Nikola Michal Bogojević (born December 21, 1991) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Otis and is the second leader of Alpha Academy. After signing with WWE in 2016, ...

(born 1991), American professional wrestler * Otis Gibson (1826–1889), American missionary in China *

Otis F. Glenn Otis Ferguson Glenn (August 27, 1879March 11, 1959) was a Republican United States Senator from the State of Illinois. He was born in Mattoon, Illinois on August 27, 1879. After graduating from law school in 1900 from the University of Illinois ...

(1879–1959), American politician *

Otis Grant Otis Grant (born December 23, 1967) is a Canadian retired boxer. As an amateur he won a silver medal for Canada at the 1987 Pan American Games, losing to Cuba's Angel Espinosa in the final. He is a two-time North American Boxing Federation (NAB ...

(born 1967), Canadian boxer *

Otis Grant (American football) Otis Grant (August 13, 1961 – May 29, 2011) was an American football wide receiver who played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Los Angeles R ...

(1961–2011), American football player *

Otis Hicks Otis Verries Hicks (March 13, 1913 – July 27, 1974), known as Lightnin' Slim, was an American blues musician who played Louisiana blues and swamp blues for Excello Records. Biography According to most sources, Otis Hicks was born on a farm ...

(1913–1974), American blues musician known as Lightnin' Slim * Otis Jackson Jr. (born 1973), American music producer and rapper * Otis King (1876–1944), British inventor *

Otis Nixon Otis Junior Nixon (born January 9, 1959) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1983), Cleveland Indians (1984–87), Montreal Expos (1988–90), Atlanta Bra ...

(born 1959), American baseball player * Otis Pavlovic, Australian rock musician of Royel Otis * Otis Polelonema (1902–1981),

Hopi The Hopi are Native Americans who primarily live in northeastern Arizona. The majority are enrolled in the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona; however, some Hopi people are enrolled in the Colorado ...

painter, illustrator, weaver, song composer and educator *

Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. ...

(1941–1967), American singer and songwriter *

Otis Reese IV Otis Sylvester Reese IV (born July 2, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels. Early life and c ...

(born 1998), American football player *

Otis Rush Otis Rush Jr. (April 29, 1934 – September 29, 2018) was an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter who has been long revered as one of the creators of modern Chicago blues; though he was respected and praised, the success he sought e ...

(1934–2018), American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter *

Otis A. Singletary Otis Arnold Singletary (October 31, 1921 – September 21, 2003) was an American historian who served as the 8th university president, president of the University of Kentucky. Early life Singletary was born October 31, 1921, in Gulfport, Mississ ...

(1921–2003), American historian and university administrator *

Otis Sistrunk Otis Sistrunk (born September 18, 1946) is an American former professional football player who played his entire seven-year career as a defensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL), from 1972 to 1978. Sistrunk ...

(born 1946), American National Football League player and professional wrestler *

Otis Skinner Otis A. Skinner (June 28, 1858 – January 4, 1942) was an American stage actor active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early life and education Skinner was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on June 28, 1858, the middle of three b ...

(1858–1942), American actor *

Otis Smith (disambiguation) Otis Smith may refer to: *Otis Smith (American football), American football player *Otis Smith (basketball), American basketball player *Otis Smith (tennis) Otis Smith (born December 8, 1965) is an American former professional tennis player. Te ...

Otis Spann Otis Spann (March 21, 1924, or 1930April 24, 1970) was an American blues musician many consider the leading postwar Chicago blues pianist. Early life Sources differ over Spann's early years. Some state that he was born in Jackson, Mississippi, ...

(1930–1970), American pianist *

Otis Taylor (musician) Otis Taylor (born July 30, 1948, Chicago, Illinois, United States) is an American blues musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist whose talents include the guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and vocals. In 2001, he was awarded a fellowship to t ...

(born 1948), American musician *

Otis Taylor (American football) Otis Taylor Jr. (August 11, 1942 – March 9, 2023) was an American professional football wide receiver who played in the American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the Prairie View A&M Panthers and was selected by the Kan ...

(1942–2023), American football player * Otis Tufts (1804–1869), American inventor *

Otis Williams Otis Williams (born Otis Miles Jr.; October 30, 1941) is an American second tenor/baritone singer.Ribowsky, Mark (2010). ''Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Endearing Soul of the Temptations''. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. ...

(born 1941), American singer, a founding member of The Temptations *

Otis Young Otis E. Young (July 4, 1932 – October 12, 2001) was an American actor and writer. He co-starred in a television Western, '' The Outcasts'' (1968–1969), with Don Murray. Young was the second African-American actor to co-star in a television W ...

(1932–2001), American actor

Fictional characters

Otis the Aardvark Otis the Aardvark is a puppet of an aardvark that was a presenter on Children's BBC on British television.Rich Pelley (14 June 2020)Pulling the strings: meet the people who brought puppets to life ''The Observer'' Otis mainly presented the af ...

, a puppet/presenter on Children's BBC * Otis Blake, fictional character in Scott Cooper's 2009 film ''

Crazy Heart ''Crazy Heart'' is a 2009 American drama film, written and directed by Scott Cooper in his feature directorial debut. Based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb, the story was inspired by country singer Hank Thompson. Starring Je ...

'' *

Otis Campbell Otis Campbell is the fictional " town drunk" in Mayberry on the American TV sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show.'' Otis was played by Hal Smith and made frequent appearances on the show from 1960 to 1967 but stopped appearing toward the end of the ...

, fictional character in the television series ''The Andy Griffith Show'' * Otis the Cow, in Nickelodeon's 2006 film, ''Barnyard'', and its TV spin-off series, ''Back at the Barnyard'' * Otis B. Driftwood, played by Groucho Marx in the 1935 film '' A Night at the Opera'' *

Otis Flannegan The Ratcatcher (Otis Flannegan) is a character appearing in American comic books and other media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of Batman. He belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up the Dark Knight's rogues gallery. O ...

or Ratcatcher, a DC Comics foe of Batman *

Otis Graves ''Supergirl'' is an American television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler, and Andrew Kreisberg based on the characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the Superman franchise and Al Plastino and Otto Binder's character Supe ...

, in the television series ''Supergirl'' * Otis Johnson (comics), a Marvel Comics character *

Otis Johnson Jr. J'son J2 Jack Flag Jack Frost Gregor Shapanka Jack O'Lantern Jason Macendale Jack of Hearts Jackdaw Jackdaw is a fictional character featured in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Dez Skinn, Steve Parkhouse, Paul N ...

, a Marvel Comics character * Otis Milburn, in the television series ''

Sex Education Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, safe sex, birth ...

'' * Otis Otis, a vampire in Heather Brewer's book series

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod ''The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod'' is a 5-book young adult series by Z Brewer. The first book, ''Eighth Grade Bites'', was first published in 2007. The first three books sold over 200,000 copies. There was also a prequel series, ''The Slayer Chro ...

* Otis Owl, a good friend of Jerry Bear in the children's television series ''

Pajanimals ''Jim Henson's Pajanimals'' (a portmanteau of the words ''pajamas'' and ''animals'') is a children's television series created by Jeff Muncy and Alex Rockwell. The Pajanimals are characters that were made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop at The J ...

'' *

Otis (DC Comics) Angel O'Day Chief O'Hara Chief Miles Clancy O'Hara is a member of the Gotham City Police Department in the DC Universe based on the character of the same name from the television series ''Batman'', portrayed by Stafford Repp. The character, ...

, a henchman of Lex Luthor in the films ''Superman'' and ''Superman II'' and related DC Comics media * Otis (''The Walking Dead''), in the Image Comics series * Otis, in the film ''

The Adventures of Milo and Otis is a 1986 Japanese adventure comedy-drama film about two animals: Milo, an orange tabby cat, and Otis, a pug. The original Japanese version, narrated by Shigeru Tsuyuki and with poetry recitation by Kyōko Koizumi, was released on July 12, ...

'' * Main character in the film '' Otis'' * Otis, in the film ''

Good Burger ''Good Burger'' is a 1997 American teen comedy film directed by Brian Robbins, written by Dan Schneider with Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert, and starring Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, and Abe Vigoda. The film is a spin-off of the "Good B ...

'' * Brian "Otis" Zvonecek, in the television series '' Chicago Fire''

Animals

* Otis, a

grizzly bear The grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos horribilis''), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America. In addition to the mainland grizzly (''Ursus arctos horr ...

who lived in

Katmai National Park and Preserve Katmai National Park and Preserve is a List of national parks of the United States, United States national park and National preserve, preserve in southwest Alaska, notable for the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and for its Alaska Peninsula brown ...

People

Fictional characters

Animals

See also