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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Otto?

38 replies

doliketobebesidetheseaside · 20/12/2023 08:13

Expecting a baby boy and have started thinking about the name Otto.

The baby will have dual British/Austrian citizenship and a Germanic sounding surname, but we live in the UK and parents/grandparents were all born and raised here.

We’re also aware that Otto is seen as very old fashioned in German-speaking countries..!

Would love to know:

  1. your thoughts on the name Otto?

  2. whether you would use it if you had an obviously Germanic surname (but didn’t actually live there/have family connections etc still there)?

Thanks in advance!

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Howtosolveit · 21/12/2023 20:36

Love it!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 21/12/2023 20:34

Otto is an old man name in Germany. I wouldn't.

BeetyAxe · 21/12/2023 16:35

I can’t believe no-one has said Titsling. I hear Otto and immediately think Titsling. From Beaches “ Otto titsling, inventor and crout,
Had nothing to get very worked up about.
His inventions were failures, his future seemed bleak.
He fled to the opera at least twice a week. La la la la-LA LA LA!”

muddyford · 21/12/2023 16:30

theduchessofspork · 20/12/2023 16:17

It always makes me think of Nazis, I know it shouldn’t but it does. Other German names don’t.

It’s popular though..

Herr Otto Flick on 'Allo, 'Allo...

differentfeather · 21/12/2023 16:30

always thought it was a cute name. go for it.

muddyford · 21/12/2023 16:28

I love it.

I met a cockerpoo called Otto. Owner says as he was born on 30 March, they wanted a name that was the same forwards and backwards. Palindrome is the word I'm groping towards!

clpsmum · 21/12/2023 16:16

I loooooove it

LucyInTheParkWithDragons · 21/12/2023 16:07

I like it. I know a few in SE London naice baby groups.

peaceinourtime · 21/12/2023 15:56

It’s nice. I know of one who has German great grand parents, I have no idea if that had any influence on the name choice.

TheCadoganArms · 21/12/2023 08:28

Good name.

It also has the added bonus of allowing him to blend with Hans Grober, Karl and Theo (plus other international terrorists) if he ever fancied joining the take over of Nakatomi Plaza in an attempt to steal the $640 million in untraceable bearer bonds in the building's vault.

Purplecatshopaholic · 21/12/2023 08:21

Love it.

WashItTomorrow · 21/12/2023 08:19

I quite like it, but it gets mentioned on here quite a lot. There will be more of them around than you might think, if that bothers you.

CarolDunne · 21/12/2023 07:55

Vogue Williams and Spencer matthews called their child this

Probably about to be a trendy name

bigcrimblesdash · 21/12/2023 07:54

I love the name Otto. It sounds great and looks really good written down too. We are a British/German bilingual family expecting a boy and also considering using this name. I know it's seen as old fashioned in Germany but although we speak the language and visit Germany often, our child will live here. Finding a name that works in both languages is tricky (I like Casper but with the K spelling it means clown/Jester in German) also pronunciation can really differ in the two languages (names with J's and I's for example). I find the nazi comments odd tbh, I think some Brits have a bit of obsession with ww2 and have watched too many old films.

BettyUnderswoob · 20/12/2023 23:35

Very reminiscent of elderly Germans with big moustaches!

But at the same time, I quite like it.

FawnDrench · 20/12/2023 18:14

Lovely name.

BabyYoshke · 20/12/2023 16:47

Ann Frank’s father was Otto Frank. Not a Nazi though obviously.

Spyrothedragonn · 20/12/2023 16:46

Def makes me think of Nazis - why is that? Was there a famous German Nazi called Otto?

It’s def climbing in popularity, trending, it’s like Casper, Felix etc

theduchessofspork · 20/12/2023 16:17

It always makes me think of Nazis, I know it shouldn’t but it does. Other German names don’t.

It’s popular though..

LittleButtercup · 20/12/2023 11:18

Love the name Otto! It would have been DD2’s name if she had been a boy.

Doublebiscuit77 · 20/12/2023 10:45

I love Otto. I also like Axel, Stefan, Felix, Maxim.

Hibernatalie · 20/12/2023 10:30

I love it. Vogue William's little boy is called Otto.

Fivepigeons · 20/12/2023 10:24

I love the name Otto!

ChateauDuMont · 20/12/2023 10:08

Lovely name.

caramac04 · 20/12/2023 09:40

I love it! Different but not too much so.
I think it suits a boy and a man.