NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Oto

A masculine name of Japanese origin meaning "sound" or "tone".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Oto is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Oto popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 3 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2006 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Oto. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Oto ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 3 boys were registered as Oto.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Oto as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4789

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

3 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Oto mean?

The name Oto is of Japanese origin, derived from the word "音" (oto), which means "sound" or "tone" in Japanese. This name has been in use in Japan for centuries, dating back to at least the 8th century AD.

In ancient Japanese mythology, Oto was the name of a minor deity associated with sound and music. This divine association likely contributed to the popularity of the name among the Japanese people.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oto can be found in the Kojiki, an ancient Japanese chronicle of myths and legends written in the early 8th century AD. In this text, Oto is mentioned as the name of a musician who served the legendary Emperor Ojin.

Throughout Japanese history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Oto. One of the most famous was Oto Nobunaga (1558-1582), a powerful daimyo (feudal lord) who played a significant role in the unification of Japan during the late 16th century.

Another prominent figure was Oto Dofusai (1628-1693), a renowned Japanese sculptor and woodcarver who specialized in creating intricate Buddhist statues and artworks.

In the world of literature, Oto Tasuku (1899-1923) was a Japanese poet and playwright who gained recognition for his avant-garde works that challenged traditional literary conventions.

Moving to the realm of music, Oto Ichiro (1920-1994) was a celebrated Japanese composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the development of contemporary classical music in Japan.

Lastly, Oto Kenji (1961-present) is a contemporary Japanese artist known for his bold and expressive abstract paintings, which have been exhibited in galleries across the globe.

While the name Oto has its roots in Japanese culture, it has also gained some popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among those with an appreciation for Japanese heritage and aesthetics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Oto over time

The chart below shows babies named Oto registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Oto, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Oto
01223200620132021

Decades

Oto by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Oto was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4789 3 1
2010s #4725 6 2
2000s #4052 3 1

Related

Names similar to Oto

FAQ

Oto: questions and answers

How popular is the name Oto in the UK right now?

In 2021, Oto was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Oto most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 3 babies registered as Oto in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Oto?

A masculine name of Japanese origin meaning "sound" or "tone".

How many people are called Oto in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Oto across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.