UK girl's name
Tulisa
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from the Spanish word "tulipán" meaning "tulip".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Tulisa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tulisa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 126 births.
This profile covers 321 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2009 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 3% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 361 living people in the UK are called Tulisa. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tulisa ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 126 girls were registered as Tulisa.
- • Tulisa ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #330 in 2012.
- • About 361 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tulisa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4684
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
2012
126 births
Estimated living
361
2026
Meaning
What does Tulisa mean?
The name Tulisa has its origins in the ancient Greek language, tracing back to the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "τουλίπα" (toulipa), which means "tulip." This association with the vibrant and beautiful flower suggests a connection to nature and grace.
In ancient Greek mythology, Tulisa was the name of a nymph who was said to have transformed into a tulip after being spurned by her lover. This mythological reference highlights the name's symbolic link to love, beauty, and transformation.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Tulisa can be found in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions from the Classical period. One notable example is a ceramic vase from the 5th century BC that bears the name "Τουλίσα" (Toulisa) inscribed on its surface.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Tulisa. In the 3rd century AD, there was a Greek philosopher and mathematician named Tulisa of Alexandria, who made significant contributions to the field of geometry.
During the Byzantine era, Tulisa Palaiologina (1270-1329) was a prominent member of the Palaiologos dynasty, known for her patronage of the arts and her involvement in political affairs.
In the Renaissance period, Tulisa Farnese (1497-1547) was an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts, who commissioned several notable works of art and architecture.
In the 19th century, Tulisa Verea (1828-1901) was a Greek poet and writer, celebrated for her lyrical works that captured the spirit of her homeland.
More recently, in the 20th century, Tulisa Contostavlos (born 1988) is a British singer, actress, and television personality, who rose to fame as a member of the hip-hop group N-Dubz and later as a judge on the reality show The X Factor.
While these are just a few examples, the name Tulisa has been borne by individuals from various cultures and time periods, each leaving their unique mark on history through their achievements and contributions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tulisa over time
The chart below shows babies named Tulisa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Tulisa, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 126 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tulisa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tulisa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #2431 | 315 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3422 | 6 | 1 |
Geography
Where Tulisa is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Tulisa. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Tulisa ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #330 in 2012.
Across the UK
Tulisa in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#449 in 2013
3 years of NRS records, 34 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#330 in 2012
2 years of NISRA records, 8 total registered
Related
Names similar to Tulisa
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Tulisa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tulisa in the UK right now?
In 2018, Tulisa was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Tulisa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 126 babies registered as Tulisa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tulisa?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from the Spanish word "tulipán" meaning "tulip".
How many people are called Tulisa in the UK?
A total of 321 babies have been registered as Tulisa across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 34 more in Scotland and 8 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Tulisa most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Tulisa ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #330 in 2012. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.