Ursula
Ursula is a feminine given name in several languages. The name is derived from a diminutive of the Latin ursa, which means "bear". In the English-speaking world, the name was most common in the 16th century, but has since become relatively rare, although its use has been influenced since the twentieth century by the Swiss-born actress Ursula Andress.
Meaning & Origin of Ursula
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ursula is a feminine given name in several languages. The name is derived from a diminutive of the Latin ursa, which means "bear". In the English-speaking world, the name was most common in the 16th century, but has since become relatively rare, although its use has been influenced since the twentieth century by the Swiss-born actress Ursula Andress.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Ursula
Ursula first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1881, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1967, when 400 Ursulas were born — ranking #474 that year. As of 2026, Ursula ranks #4,832 for baby girls with 28 births, holding steady (-1%). In total, more than 15K Ursulas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Ursula
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Ursule Molinaro (1916–2000), French-American writer and translator
- Ursule Wibaut (1887–?), French Olympic footballer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Ursula
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ursula is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ursula
What does the name Ursula mean?
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In which U.S. states is Ursula most popular?
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About the name Ursula
Ursula is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1881 and has accumulated 15K births in the dataset. Ursula's peak popularity came in 1967 when it ranked #441. Use the chart and map above to compare Ursula's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1967 →
- Names of the 1960s →
- Names starting with "U" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.