UK girl's name
Urszula
A feminine Polish name derived from Ursula, meaning "little female bear".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Urszula is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Urszula popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4056, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 11 births.
This profile covers 109 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 2007 to 2023. 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 45% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 108 living people in the UK are called Urszula. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Urszula ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 11 girls were registered as Urszula.
- • About 108 living people in the UK are estimated to have Urszula as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4056
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2019
11 births
Estimated living
108
2026
Meaning
What does Urszula mean?
Urszula is a feminine given name of Polish origin, derived from the Latin name "Ursula". The name Ursula is believed to have originated from the Latin word "ursa", meaning "she-bear". It was a popular name among early Christian martyrs.
The name Urszula gained widespread recognition due to the legend of Saint Ursula, a British princess who, according to the Catholic tradition, was martyred along with 11,000 virgin companions in Cologne, Germany, during the 4th or 5th century. This legend contributed significantly to the popularity of the name across Europe, particularly in Catholic regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Urszula can be found in the Polish chronicles from the 12th century. The name was commonly used among the Polish nobility and gentry during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Urszula. One of the earliest examples is Saint Ursula of Brabant (1030-1126), a Flemish nun and mystic who founded several monasteries in Belgium. Another prominent figure was Urszula Ledóchowska (1865-1939), a Polish nun and founder of the Ursuline Sisters of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus.
In the realm of arts and literature, Urszula Kochanowska (1554-1594) was a Polish poet and translator, known for her contributions to the Polish Renaissance literature. Urszula Gräfin von Mengden (1683-1746) was a German writer and translator who played a significant role in the literary circles of her time.
Urszula Radwańska (born 1990) is a contemporary Polish professional tennis player who has achieved notable success on the WTA Tour, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 28 in the world.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Urszula throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Urszula over time
The chart below shows babies named Urszula registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Urszula, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Urszula by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Urszula 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 | #3825 | 16 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3231 | 73 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3322 | 20 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Urszula
- Una 945
- Uma 592
- Umaiza 556
- Umaymah 540
- Umme 508
- Ursula 481
- Umaima 407
- Uzma 370
- Umaimah 333
- Umayyah 238
- Umamah 231
- Urwa 200
FAQ
Urszula: questions and answers
How popular is the name Urszula in the UK right now?
In 2023, Urszula was ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Urszula most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 11 babies registered as Urszula in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Urszula?
A feminine Polish name derived from Ursula, meaning "little female bear".
How many people are called Urszula in the UK?
A total of 109 babies have been registered as Urszula across the 16 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.