NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Tula

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "balance" or "scales".

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.

Tula is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tula popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 14 births.

This profile covers 221 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 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 220 living people in the UK are called Tula. 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

  • Tula ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 14 girls were registered as Tula.
  • About 220 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tula as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2011

14 births

Estimated living

220

2026

Meaning

What does Tula mean?

The name Tula has its origins in several ancient languages and cultures. In Sanskrit, the word "tula" means "balance" or "scales," and it is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit root "tul," which means "to weigh" or "to measure." This connection to balance and scales suggests that the name may have been associated with the astrological sign of Libra or with professions related to weighing and measuring.

In ancient Greek, the name "Tula" is a variation of the word "telos," which means "end" or "completion." This could indicate that the name was given to individuals born at the end of a particular cycle or season, or to celebrate the completion of a significant event or journey.

The name Tula has also been traced back to the Etruscan civilization, which flourished in ancient Italy before the rise of the Roman Empire. In Etruscan culture, the word "tular" referred to a type of religious ceremony or ritual, suggesting that the name may have held spiritual or ceremonial significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tula can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. In this text, Tula is mentioned as the name of a powerful warrior and ally of the Pandava princes. Another notable historical figure named Tula was Tula the Great, a 7th-century king of the Khazar Khaganate, a powerful empire that ruled over parts of modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

In the 12th century, Tula was the name of a prominent Persian poet and philosopher who was known for her mystical writings and her contributions to Sufi literature. During the Renaissance period, Tula Vita was an Italian humanist scholar and writer who was celebrated for her intellect and her work in promoting the education of women.

In more recent history, Tula Ellice Fanning was an American painter and illustrator who lived from 1888 to 1983 and was known for her vibrant depictions of Native American life and culture. Tula Tomas was a Filipino writer and activist who played a significant role in the Philippine independence movement in the early 20th century.

These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have carried the name Tula throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and the variety of meanings and associations it has held across different civilizations and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tula over time

The chart below shows babies named Tula registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Tula, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tula
0471114199620102024

Decades

Tula by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tula 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 #3055 40 5
2010s #2514 103 10
2000s #2431 61 7
1990s #3148 17 4

Related

Names similar to Tula

FAQ

Tula: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Tula was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Tula most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 14 babies registered as Tula in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tula?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "balance" or "scales".

How many people are called Tula in the UK?

A total of 221 babies have been registered as Tula across the 26 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.