Fun Facts About the Name Ursala
- 92 babies named Ursala: U.S. records list 92 babies given the name Ursala from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ursala Mean?
Ursala is a feminine name of Latin origin, a spelling variant of Ursula. It comes from Latin ursa, "bear," combined with the diminutive suffix -ula, so the literal sense is "little she-bear." That is the standard derivation; the name has no widely accepted alternative root. The literal sense is a small female bear, and later usage has often treated the bear as a symbol of strength or protectiveness, but that is a symbolic reading layered on top of the basic meaning rather than part of the etymology.
Ursala Name History & Origins
The name is best known through Saint Ursula, a legendary British princess said to have been martyred at Cologne together with a group of companions, traditionally put at eleven thousand. That large number is often explained as a misreading of an early text that named eleven martyrs. Her cult spread widely in medieval Europe, and the name came into use in England and on the continent during the Middle Ages.
The Ursuline order, founded by Angela Merici in 1535 and named for the saint, helped keep the name in circulation in Catholic Europe. The spelling Ursala is a less common variant that differs from Ursula only in the vowel of the middle syllable; it comes from the same Latin source and has no separate origin of its own.
How Popular is the Name Ursala?
Ursala has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1968. Its best rank was #5,127 in 1968.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | #12,306 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #10,340 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #9,705 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #9,233 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #6,462 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #8,718 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #9,738 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #7,263 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #6,599 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #7,956 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #8,655 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #5,127 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #6,011 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #6,497 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with U
How the Name Ursala Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have talent, charm and luck. You can succeed in art and in any educational occupation. You attract peculiar experiences. Your power and protection lies in spiritual side of life. You are an enthusiastic collector and you will be tenacious in holding onto the things you accumulate. You have a good memory and should make an effort to have a positive attitude. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Ursala's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ursala's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.