NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Lulah

A feminine name with unclear origins, possibly derived from an Arabic word meaning "pearls".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Lulah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lulah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 12 births.

This profile covers 73 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2009 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 73 living people in the UK are called Lulah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lulah ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 12 girls were registered as Lulah.
  • About 73 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lulah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3695

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2019

12 births

Estimated living

73

2026

Meaning

What does Lulah mean?

The name Lulah is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the 19th century. It is a feminine name derived from the English word "lull," meaning a temporary calm or peaceful period. The name may have been initially used to symbolize tranquility or serenity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lulah can be found in the 1881 novel "The Story of an African Farm" by Olive Schreiner. In the book, a character named Lulah is portrayed as a calm and composed young woman, reflecting the essence of the name's meaning.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lulah. One such person was Lulah Ragsdale (1892-1958), an American actress and vaudeville performer who gained fame in the early 20th century. She appeared in various Broadway productions and silent films during her career.

Another notable Lulah was Lulah Mallory (1904-1972), an American painter and printmaker known for her depictions of rural life and landscapes. Her works were exhibited in various galleries and museums across the United States.

In the realm of sports, Lulah Ellison (1886-1972) was a pioneer in women's basketball. She played for the Stanford University women's basketball team in the early 1900s and later became a coach, contributing to the development of the sport.

The name Lulah also appears in literary works, such as the novel "The Optimist's Daughter" by Eudora Welty, published in 1972. In the book, a character named Lulah Meadows plays a significant role, exemplifying the calm and composed nature often associated with the name.

Additionally, Lulah Gross (1858-1932) was an American philanthropist and social activist who dedicated her life to improving the lives of underprivileged children and families in Chicago during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the name Lulah may not be as common today as it once was, its historical roots and associations with calmness, serenity, and tranquility have left a lasting impact on its unique and intriguing meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lulah over time

The chart below shows babies named Lulah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lulah, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Lulah
036912200920162024

Decades

Lulah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lulah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3619 18 3
2010s #3656 52 8
2000s #5556 3 1

Related

Names similar to Lulah

FAQ

Lulah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lulah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Lulah was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Lulah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 12 babies registered as Lulah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lulah?

A feminine name with unclear origins, possibly derived from an Arabic word meaning "pearls".

How many people are called Lulah in the UK?

A total of 73 babies have been registered as Lulah across the 12 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.