Otilia is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, which was thought to be derived from the Latin word 'aemulus,' meaning rival or emulator. The name Otilia became popular during the Middle Ages in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly among the Slavic peoples.
The name Otilia has been used throughout history by several notable figures. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Saint Otilia (also known as Ottilia), who was a nun and the founder of the Benedictine convent at Hohenburg in Germany. She is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, with her feast day celebrated on June 13th.
In literature, Otilia is also the name of a character in Thomas Mann's novel "Death in Venice," published in 1912. In this story, Otilia is the governess of a young girl named Tadzio, who becomes the object of obsession for the protagonist, Gustav von Aschenbach.
Today, Otilia remains a relatively uncommon given name, but it continues to be used in various cultures and languages around the world. It has several variations and diminutives, such as Ottilia, Otylia, Otillie, and Otília, among others. Despite its rarity, the name Otilia carries with it a rich history and cultural significance that sets it apart from other feminine given names.
The given statistics illustrate the fluctuations in the number of births with the name Otilia in the United States from 1893 to 2023. The name first appeared with five births in 1893 and had a similar pattern in subsequent years, with five births each in 1894, 1896, and 1900.
However, starting around the early 1900s, there was an increase in the number of births with the name Otilia. The highest point was reached in 1927 with 33 births, which was more than double the previous year's total. This trend continued until 1935 when it peaked at 36 births.
After this high point, the popularity of the name started to decline gradually. There were fewer than 20 births each year from 1940 to 1979, with a low of eight births in 1964 and 1983.
The next notable increase occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s. There were 17 births in 1997, and this number fluctuated between six and 17 births per year until 2005 when it dropped to five births.
Since then, there has been another increase in the popularity of the name Otilia. Between 2007 and 2023, there were at least nine births each year, with peaks of 14 births in 2022 and 12 births in both 2021 and 2023.
In total, from 1893 to 2023, there were 1665 births registered with the name Otilia in the United States. This demonstrates that while the popularity of this name has fluctuated over time, it has maintained a consistent presence throughout history.