Given name & surname
Lotte
“free man”·“a small, strong woman”
In German use, Lotte is a diminutive of Charlotte. The older Germanic root shared with Charles means “free man.” Charlotte keeps that historical connection in a feminine form. Lotte is a variant of Lottie. In French use, Lottie carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Lotte is a diminutive of Charlotte. The older Germanic root shared with Charles means “free man.” Charlotte keeps that historical connection in a feminine form. Lotte is a variant of Lottie. In French use, Lottie carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Lotte is a diminutive of Charlotte. Charlotte belongs to English and French naming traditions and was formed as a feminine diminutive of Charles.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Lotte is a diminutive of Charlotte. In German use, Lotte is a diminutive of Charlotte. The shared background comes through Charlotte: Charlotte was formed from Charles using a feminine diminutive ending. Charlotte’s connection to the Charles family also links it to the older Germanic root behind that name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German use, Lotte is a diminutive of Charlotte. The history of Charlotte gives this family its wider story. Charlotte was used in England by the seventeenth century. Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, and the novelist Charlotte Brontë helped strengthen its presence in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Lotte is a variant of Lottie. The history of Lottie gives this family its wider story. Lottie was in use during the 19th century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lotte through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 94
- 0 boys · 94 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 13 babies
- 2025
- 9
- #10,567 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +32%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 9 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 10,567 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 460 as a first name in 2020; 103 as a surname in 2000.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Lotte’s family of names
In German usage, Lotte is a diminutive of Charlotte. Lotte has a related form in Lottie. In German usage, Lotte is a short form of Charlotte.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Lotte has relatives in 5 languages.
3 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Lotte
- Lotte ReinigerGerman silhouette animator and film director (1899–1981)
- Lotte FriisDanish swimmerborn 1988
- Lotte KopeckyBelgian cyclistborn 1995
- Lotte VerbeekDutch actressborn 1982
- Lotte LehmannGerman soprano (1888–1976)
- Lotte Wubben-MoyEnglish association football player (born 1999)
- Lotte van BeekDutch speed skaterborn 1991
- Lotte JacobiGerman-American photographer (1896–1990)
- Lotte KiærskouDanish handball playerborn 1975
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lotte, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lareine
“the queen; one born to royalty”
>99% girls
Ottilie
“a wealthy man”
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Olena
“the shining light”
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Emiline
Emiline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Eadie
“one who is wealthy in friendship”
>99% girls
Emaline
Emaline is a variant of Emma. Emma’s shared Germanic element carries the sense “entire” or “whole.”
>99% girls
Ellenor
“shining light”
>99% girls
Malka
“a queenly woman”
>99% girls