Ursuline Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Ursuline

Pronunciation: UR-suh-lin / UR-suh-leen

Meaning Little she-bear Gender Girl
Ursuline' Popularity in U.S.
No births recorded for Ursuline in the 2025 SSA name data.

Fun Facts About the Name Ursuline

  • 25 babies named Ursuline: U.S. records list 25 babies given the name Ursuline from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Ursuline Mean?

Ursuline goes back to the Latin ursula, a diminutive of ursa, "bear." The literal sense is therefore "little she-bear." It is a feminine form of the same root that produced Ursula; the ending -ine is the French feminine suffix, so Ursuline functions as the French feminine counterpart of the name. The Latin ursa belongs to an old Indo-European word for bear, seen also in Greek arktos and Sanskrit ṛkṣa.

Ursuline Name History & Origins

The root name is the Latin Ursula, which was used as a Christian personal name in medieval Europe. A traditional account tells of Saint Ursula, a princess said to have been martyred with a large group of companions at Cologne. That story spread widely in the Middle Ages and gave Ursula a firm place in European naming.

Ursuline is also the name of a Catholic religious order, the Ursulines, founded at Brescia in 1535 by Angela Merici under the patronage of Saint Ursula. Through the order the word became familiar in Catholic Europe, and it took on a distinct life in French: the Ursulines founded houses in France and, in 1639, in Quebec. In French the word is both the feminine adjective for the order and a feminine personal name, and it is in that French form that Ursuline is chiefly encountered, rather than as a direct continuation of the Latin Ursula.

How Popular is the Name Ursuline?

Ursuline 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 1924. Its best rank was #4,150 in 1914.

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.

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

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How the Name Ursuline 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 are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Ursuline's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ursuline's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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