Girl name · Latin
Ursula
“little she-bear”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Ursula.
Explore Ursula further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Ursula — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Ursula is ursa (she-bear) with a double diminutive — the little little bear. Saint Ursula's legend, in which she is martyred at Cologne with eleven thousand companions, is almost certainly a scribal error for eleven, and it made her name enormous in medieval Europe regardless.
Ursula Le Guin and Ursula Burns are the modern anchors. It left the US top 1000 in the 1980s, helped along by the sea witch in 1989.
Sula is the short form worth reviving. Three syllables want one (Ursula Wren, Ursula Jane). On our vibe map it is Dark Academia with Heirloom depth.
More Latin names
Ursula sits in our Latin set — these share its roots.
All Latin names →Ursula — common questions
Is Ursula a boy or girl name?
Ursula is traditionally a girl name of Latin origin.
What does the name Ursula mean?
Ursula means “little she-bear” of Latin origin. Ursula is ursa (she-bear) with a double diminutive — the little little bear. Saint Ursula's legend, in which she is martyred at Cologne with eleven thousand companions, is almost certainly a scribal error for eleven, and it made her name enormous in medieval Europe regardless.
Where does the name Ursula come from?
Ursula is Latin in origin. Ursula Le Guin and Ursula Burns are the modern anchors. It left the US top 1000 in the 1980s, helped along by the sea witch in 1989.
What are common nicknames for Ursula?
Ursa, Sula, and Uschi — the short-forms parents most often use for Ursula.
How popular is Ursula?
Ursula did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Ursula you might want for the nursery.