Ursula Girl

Popularity: #919 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: UR-suh-luh /ˈɜːrsələ/

Origin: Latin; Old French

Meaning: Latin: little bear; Old French: bear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ursula has its roots in the Latin word "ursa," meaning "bear." This etymology is reflected in the diminutive form "Ursula," which translates to "little bear." The name was popularized in the early Christian era, particularly through the legend of Saint Ursula, a 4th-century martyr who is said to have been the daughter of a British king. Her story, which includes a pilgrimage to Rome and a tragic encounter with Huns, was widely disseminated in medieval hagiographies, contributing to the name's enduring presence in Christian contexts.

Ursula's historical significance is further underscored by its association with various saints and martyrs, particularly in the Catholic Church. The most notable figure is Saint Ursula, whose feast day is celebrated on October 21.

The legend surrounding her life and martyrdom was popularized in the Golden Legend, a collection of hagiographies compiled in the 13th century. This text, along with other medieval writings, helped solidify Ursula's status as a revered figure, inspiring numerous churches and artworks dedicated to her.

Culturally, the name Ursula has been embraced in various forms across Europe, often symbolizing strength and protection, akin to the bear's characteristics in folklore. The name has been used in literature and art, notably in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," where Ursula is a character who plays a pivotal role in the plot.

This literary presence, along with the historical and religious associations, has contributed to the name's resonance in various cultural contexts throughout history.

Famous people named Ursula

In this section, you will find notable people named Ursula. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Ursula who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Ursula who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Ursula K. Le Guin is an author best known for The Left Hand of Darkness, A Wizard of Earthsea, and The Dispossessed.

Ursula von der Leyen is a politician best known for serving as President of the European Commission.

Fictional characters named Ursula

The following list of fictional characters named Ursula is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Ursula is a fictional character from the animated film The Little Mermaid. She is the sea witch who tricks Ariel into giving up her voice in exchange for human legs.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ursula, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

IsabellaGabriellaAnastasiaCeciliaVictoriaJuliana

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ursula. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

VeronicaSelenaLucindaOpheliaAdelaideMirandaEvangelineArabella

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ursula was first seen in the United States in 1881.

Ursula has ranked as high as #837 nationally, which occurred in 1967, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Ursula has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ursula is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ursula was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ursula.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 29 29
2024 25 25
2023 39 39
2022 25 25
2021 34 34
2020 28 28
2019 23 23
2018 29 29
2017 33 33
2016 30 30
2015 41 41
2014 24 24
2013 30 30
2012 27 27
2011 26 26
2010 32 32
2009 39 39
2008 24 24
2007 38 38
2006 30 30
2005 26 26
2004 34 34
2003 47 47
2002 31 31
2001 44 44
2000 44 44
1999 52 52
1998 66 66
1997 39 39
1996 37 37
1995 49 49
1994 62 62
1993 47 47
1992 62 62
1991 80 80
1990 97 97
1989 106 106
1988 128 128
1987 130 130
1986 127 127
1985 131 131
1984 132 132
1983 148 148
1982 160 160
1981 170 170
1980 166 166
1979 181 181
1978 179 179
1977 217 217
1976 230 230
1975 261 261
1974 268 268
1973 297 297
1972 377 377
1971 395 395
1970 335 335
1969 384 384
1968 354 354
1967 400 400
1966 368 368
1965 355 355
1964 236 236
1963 203 203
1962 194 194
1961 182 182
1960 134 134
1959 119 119
1958 121 121
1957 109 109
1956 134 134
1955 144 144
1954 119 119
1953 89 89
1952 93 93
1951 82 82
1950 77 77
1949 68 68
1948 65 65
1947 87 87
1946 72 72
1945 78 78
1944 85 85
1943 71 71
1942 83 83
1941 90 90
1940 86 86
1939 108 108
1938 104 104
1937 100 100
1936 114 114
1935 115 115
1934 107 107
1933 132 132
1932 101 101
1931 104 104
1930 141 141
1929 127 127
1928 122 122
1927 131 131
1926 122 122
1925 144 144
1924 152 152
1923 181 181
1922 159 159
1921 143 143
1920 160 160
1919 142 142
1918 155 155
1917 135 135
1916 147 147
1915 144 144
1914 119 119
1913 99 99
1912 79 79
1911 66 66
1910 55 55
1909 61 61
1908 48 48
1907 42 42
1906 55 55
1905 50 50
1904 37 37
1903 46 46
1902 35 35
1901 45 45
1900 41 41
1899 29 29
1898 40 40
1897 32 32
1896 31 31
1895 39 39
1894 22 22
1893 18 18
1892 21 21
1891 21 21
1890 26 26
1889 18 18
1888 14 14
1887 20 20
1886 19 19
1885 19 19
1884 9 9
1883 7 7
1882 9 9
1881 6 6

Top States for Ursula (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 5
100%