Is Ursula a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Ursula is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Ursula?

It’s currently ranked #925 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Ursula?

UR-suh-luh · IPA: /ˈɜːrsələ/

Ursula Girl

Popularity: #925 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationUR-suh-luh / ˈɜːrsələ

Latin; Old French

Meaning

Latin: little bear; Old French: bear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ursula is derived from the Latin word 'ursa', meaning bear. It has been used since the early Christian era, notably associated with Saint Ursula, a legendary figure who was martyred in the 4th or 5th century. The name gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly in regions influenced by the cult of Saint Ursula. It has remained in use throughout the centuries, often associated with strength and protection.

Trend Summary

Ursula has experienced fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable increase in use during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants

Ursel
Ursie

International Variants

Ursula (German)
Ursule (French)
Orsola (Italian)

Famous people named Ursula

Ursula K. Le Guin was an acclaimed American author known for her works in science fiction and fantasy.

Ursula von der Leyen is a German politician who has served as the President of the European Commission since 2019.

Ursula Andress is a Swiss actress famous for her role as Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, 'Dr. No'.

Ursula Burns is an American businesswoman who served as the CEO of Xerox, becoming the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.

Fictional characters named Ursula

Ursula is a sea witch in Disney's animated film 'The Little Mermaid', known for her cunning and manipulation.

Ursula is a character in Shakespeare's play 'Much Ado About Nothing', serving as a maid and confidante.

Sibling Suggestions

Isabella Gabriella Anastasia Cecilia Victoria Juliana

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ursula was first seen in the United States in 1881. Ursula has ranked as high as #732 nationally, which occurred in 1967, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Ursula has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Ursula (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	5	100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

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