The story behind Ursula
From Latin Ursula, the name of a fourth century saint. Via Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos cognate with Arcady.
Other language forms and explanations (3)
Finnish entry
From Latin Ursula.
German entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Ursula. Compare the popular form Ursel, from Middle High German Ursele.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from Spanish Úrsula.
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈɝ.sə.lə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɜː.sjʊ.lə/
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɜː.ʃʊ.lə/
- Finnish: /ˈursulɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈurs̠ulɑ̝]
- German: /ˈʊʁzula/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈʔuɾsula/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˌʔuɾ.sʊˈla]
Popularity
Ursula ranked #4747 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ursula
Úrsula
Borrowed from Medieval Latin Ursula. Borrowed from Medieval Latin Ursula.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adolba
From Spanish Adolfo (“Adolf”), coined by Sabino Arana.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adria
From Latin Adria, Hadria. Compare Adriatic.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adriana
Doublet of Adrienne and Adrian. a female given name from Latin [in turn from Etruscan], equivalent to English Adriana a female given name from Latin [in turn from Etruscan],…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adrianna
Learned borrowing from Latin Adrianna.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Agata
Learned borrowing from Latin Agatha, from Ancient Greek Ἀγαθή (Agathḗ).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ursula
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Baldomero
Borrowed from Spanish Baldomero.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Baldovino
From Latin Balduinus, from Frankish *Baldawin, from Proto-Germanic *Balþawiniz (literally “bold friend”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ursula
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length