Girl name · Latin
Ursula
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: little bearUrsula is a girl's name that comes from Latin and means "little bear". It is used in English, German and Scandinavian.
- Meaning
- Little bear
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #4747 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ursula
As a girl's name, Ursula comes from Latin and means "little bear". It is used in English, German and Scandinavian.
In German, say OOR-zoo-lah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Ursula on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ursula on 4 lists.
“Little bear; Latin, from ursa, bear. Say OOR-zoo-lah”
From German girl names, old-fashioned German girl names
“Little bear; Latin. Legendary saint of Cologne and her companions”
From Medieval names and surnames, saints' names popular in medieval Europe
“Little bear; Latin. Legendary saint of Cologne”
From Roman names, roman girl names from virtues and nicknames
“Latin for little bear; sturdy and storybook”
From Witch names, witchy names for girls
How popular is Ursula?
- US rank in 2025
- #4,747
- 29 babies, 18 per million girls
- Best rank
- #447 in 1901
- Most babies: 400 in 1967
- Babies since 1881
- At least 14,811
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 92 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 126 per million |
| 1900s | 157 per million |
| 1910s | 140 per million |
| 1920s | 121 per million |
| 1930s | 106 per million |
| 1940s | 54 per million |
| 1950s | 57 per million |
| 1960s | 154 per million |
| 1970s | 177 per million |
| 1980s | 81 per million |
| 1990s | 33 per million |
| 2000s | 19 per million |
| 2010s | 17 per million |
| 2020s | 19 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,726 | #4,376 | #4,762 | #5,603 | #4,747 | #4,235 | #5,294 | #3,906 | #5,282 | #4,747 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Ursula
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- OrsolaLittle bear (Latin, girl)
- UllaLittle bear (Latin, girl)
- UschiLittle bear (Latin, girl)
Names spelled like Ursula
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- UrmilaWave, billow (Sanskrit, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- BernadetteBrave bear (Germanic, girl)
- BernardBrave bear (Germanic, boy)
- BernardoBrave bear (Germanic, boy)
- BerengariaBear and spear (Germanic, girl)
- BjörnA bear (Old Norse, boy)
- TorbenThor's bear (Old Norse, boy)
- ArmelBear prince (Old Welsh, boy)
- ArmelleBear prince (Old Welsh, girl)
- ArnbjörnEagle and bear (Old Norse, boy)
- ArtBear (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Middle names for Ursula
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Latin
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- OliviaOlive tree (Latin, girl)
- CarinaDear, beloved (Latin, girl)
- EmiliaRival, striving to equal (Latin, girl)
- FloraFlower, blossom (Latin, girl)
- MarinaOf the sea (Latin, girl)
- ReginaQueen (Latin, girl)
- ValentinaStrong, healthy (Latin, girl)
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
Ursula: common questions
What does the name Ursula mean?
Ursula comes from Latin and means "little bear".
Is Ursula a boy or girl name?
Ursula is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Ursula come from?
Ursula comes from Latin and means "little bear". Today it is used in English, German and Scandinavian.
How popular is the name Ursula?
Ursula ranked #4,747 in the US in 2025, with 29 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Ursula?
Forms of Ursula with the same meaning and origin include Orsola (Italian), Ulla (German) and Uschi (German).
What middle names go with Ursula?
Middle names that flow well with Ursula include Amber, Blair, Briar, Hope and Joan. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.