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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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tenbob · 20/12/2023 09:29

We are in a Naice bit of SW London, and Otto is quite a popular name here

I would put it in the same category as Wilf and Ludo - slightly Germanic, popular with the upper middles, timeless

Mischance · 20/12/2023 09:21

It's fine - just don't name a sister Ottilie!

BabyYoshke · 20/12/2023 09:20

Great name

Mirrormeback · 20/12/2023 09:20

It's such an adorable name I love it

SorrowsPrayers · 20/12/2023 09:19

Love it!

Zuve · 20/12/2023 09:17

Yes Otto. Cool. I went to school with a boy called Otto. All the girls liked him.

redlavender · 20/12/2023 09:14

Sorry but Otto sounds comical in Germany. It's old fashioned and very uncool. Maybe like Nigel or Clive.

Littlefidget2 · 20/12/2023 08:33

As a fellow German speaker- use it, it's lovely and will sound good in both countries. Excellent choice!

user1492757084 · 20/12/2023 08:29

Otto is handsome. Yes, use it. I also like Olaf.

modgepodge · 20/12/2023 08:20

I like it - as an English person with no other heritage I’d feel a bit weird using it myself and would assume Germanic heritage, so if that’s you I think go for it!

my daughter has a top 100 name originally from another country (going against what I’ve said above😂😂😂 though it’s popular/mainstream enough to count as ‘English’ now) which I am told is considered very ‘old lady’ in the original country, but there’s hundreds of little girls in this country with it and I doubt many old ladies. No one in this country will know it’s considered old fashioned in Germany is my point.

LegoDeathTrap · 20/12/2023 08:17

Love it, but then I like old fashioned names and like the fact there won’t be 29 other Ottos in a class of 30.

I know an Otto in the UK (in his 30s, also Germanic background).

eleah · 20/12/2023 08:17

It's nice.

QueSyrahSyrah · 20/12/2023 08:15

I really like it.