Boy Names That Start With U
U is one of the least-used first letters for boys in the US, which makes a U name an easy way to stand out without inventing anything. The letter still holds some real classics: Ulysses, the wandering hero; Uriel, the archangel of light; and Umar, one of the great names of early Islamic history.
Our list of 90+ boy names that start with U covers biblical, mythological and international choices, from Basque and Finnish to Arabic, Igbo and Sanskrit, each with a genuine meaning. For more rare letters, try our boy names that start with V and Y, or see girl names that start with U.
Familiar U names for boys
The U names you’re most likely to meet in the US — rare, but recognizable (SSA data).
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Uriel | God is my light | Hebrew |
| Uriah | God is my light | Hebrew |
| Ulysses | Latin form of Odysseus, the wandering hero | Latin / Greek |
| Ulises | Spanish form of Ulysses | Spanish |
| Umar | Long-lived, flourishing | Arabic |
| Usman | Turkish and South Asian form of Uthman | Arabic |
| Uri | My light | Hebrew |
| Urban | Of the city | Latin |
| Ulrich | Prosperity and power | Germanic |
| Uziel | God is my strength | Hebrew |
| Umberto | Bright warrior (Italian form of Humbert) | Italian |
| Ugo | Italian form of Hugo, “mind, spirit”; also Igbo for “eagle” | Italian / Igbo |
| Ubaldo | Bold mind | Italian / Spanish |
| Upton | Upper town | English |
Biblical boy names starting with U
Several U names appear in the Hebrew Bible and the letters of Paul. More in our biblical boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Bible reference |
|---|---|---|
| Uzziah | The Lord is my strength | 2 Chronicles 26 |
| Uzziel | God is my strength | Exodus 6:18 |
| Uzzi | My strength | 1 Chronicles 6:5 |
| Uzal | Wanderer (possibly) | Genesis 10:27 |
| Urbanus | Of the city; Paul’s fellow worker | Romans 16:9 |
| Uel | Will of God (possibly) | Ezra 10:34 |
| Unni | Afflicted (possibly) | 1 Chronicles 15:18 |
| Uzi | My strength (modern Hebrew form) | Nehemiah 11:22 |
U names from myth and legend
Sky gods, hunters and kings. Discover more heroes in mythology boy names and Norse god names.
| Name | Who he was | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
| Uranus | Primordial god of the sky | Greek (Ouranos) |
| Ullr | God of winter, skiing and archery | Norse |
| Ukko | God of the sky and thunder | Finnish |
| Utu | Sun god and bringer of justice | Sumerian |
| Uther | Father of King Arthur (Uther Pendragon) | Arthurian legend |
| Urien | King of Rheged in Welsh legend | Welsh |
| Upendra | Name of Vishnu as the younger brother of Indra | Hindu |
| Uddhav | Wise friend and counselor of Krishna | Hindu |
| Utnapishtim | Survivor of the great flood in <em>Gilgamesh</em> | Mesopotamian |
Irish, Scottish and Welsh U names
Gaelic forms of familiar names, with pronunciation help. See more in our Irish boy names.
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ultan | UL-tan | Man from Ulster; a 7th-century saint |
| Uinseann | IN-shun | Irish form of Vincent, “conquering” |
| Uilliam | ILL-yum | Irish form of William, “resolute protector” |
| Ualtar | OOL-ter | Irish form of Walter, “ruler of the army” |
| Uisdean | OOSH-jan | Scottish Gaelic form of Hugh or Norse Eystein |
| Ulick | YOO-lik | Irish form of Hugh or Ulrich |
| Uthyr | ITH-ir | Welsh spelling of Uther, “terrible” (possibly) |
European boy names that start with U
From Germany and Scandinavia to the Basque Country and the Balkans.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Udo | Wealth, prosperity (German); peace (Igbo) | German / Igbo |
| Uwe | Possibly “sword”; Frisian name | German |
| Ulf | Wolf | Old Norse |
| Ulrik | Scandinavian form of Ulrich | Danish / Norwegian |
| Uffe | Danish pet form of Ulf, “wolf” | Danish |
| Urho | Hero, brave | Finnish |
| Uno | One (Swedish/Latin); used as a first name | Swedish |
| Ueli | Swiss German pet form of Ulrich | Swiss German |
| Unai | Cowherd | Basque |
| Urko | Name of a Basque mountain | Basque |
| Uxío | Galician form of Eugene, “well-born” | Galician |
| Ulisse | Italian form of Ulysses | Italian |
| Uberto | Bright mind (Italian form of Hubert) | Italian |
| Urbano | Of the city | Italian / Spanish |
| Uroš | Lord, master (possibly) | Serbian |
| Ustin | Russian form of Justin, “just” | Russian |
| Ulyan | Russian form of Julian, “youthful” | Russian |
| Ursus | Bear | Latin |
| Ursino | Little bear | Italian |
| Ulric | Wolf power (from Old English Wulfric) | Old English |
| Ulysse | French form of Ulysses | French |
Arabic, Turkish and Central Asian U names
Names with deep roots in Islamic history and Turkic languages. Explore more in Muslim boy names and Turkish boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Uthman | Baby bustard; name of the third caliph | Arabic |
| Ubaid | Little servant (of God) | Arabic |
| Umair | Long-lived (diminutive of Umar) | Arabic |
| Usama | Lion | Arabic |
| Uzair | Helper; Arabic form of Ezra | Arabic |
| Ukasha | Name of a companion of the Prophet | Arabic |
| Usayd | Little lion | Arabic |
| Umut | Hope | Turkish |
| Utku | Victory | Turkish |
| Uğur | Good luck, fortune | Turkish |
| Ulaş | Reaching, attaining | Turkish |
| Ulugbek | Great lord | Uzbek |
| Ufuk | Horizon | Turkish |
Indian boy names that start with U
Sanskrit-rooted names with bright, hopeful meanings. See our full Indian boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Uday | Rising, dawn | Sanskrit |
| Uttam | Best, excellent | Sanskrit |
| Ujjwal | Bright, splendid | Sanskrit |
| Umesh | Lord of Uma (Shiva) | Sanskrit |
| Utkarsh | Excellence, prosperity | Sanskrit |
| Umang | Enthusiasm, joy | Sanskrit |
| Urjit | Energetic, powerful | Sanskrit |
| Utpal | Blue lotus | Sanskrit |
| Umakant | Beloved of Uma (Shiva) | Sanskrit |
| Udit | Risen, awakened | Sanskrit |
| Ullas | Joy, delight | Sanskrit |
African and East Asian U names
Igbo names often carry a whole sentence of meaning. More in our Nigerian boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Uche | Thought, will | Igbo |
| Uchenna | God’s will | Igbo |
| Uzoma | Good road, good fortune on the journey | Igbo |
| Ugochukwu | God’s eagle; glory of God | Igbo |
| Umaru | Hausa form of Umar | Hausa |
| Uzochukwu | God’s way | Igbo |
| Ushio | Tide | Japanese |
| Ukyo | Right capital (a historic court title) | Japanese |
| Usher | Doorkeeper | English |
Tips for choosing a U name
- Decide on the vowel sound. U can be “you” (Uriel, Ulysses), “oo” (Uri, Umar) or “uh” (Upton, Ulf). Choose a name whose sound people will guess correctly.
- Balance rarity with ease. Uri, Umar and Urban are rare but instantly readable; Uisdean and Utnapishtim will need regular spelling help.
- Think about initials. A U name with certain middle and last initials can spell awkward words — write them out.
- Honor heritage. Many U names are strong family names in Irish, Igbo, Arabic or Indian families; see our Arabic boy names for more.
- Use U in the middle. If a U first name feels bold, Uriel or Ulysses make memorable middle names instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good boy name that starts with U?
Uriel, Ulysses, Uri, Umar and Urban are the most wearable U names for boys in the US: recognizable, easy to spell and rich in meaning.
What boy names starting with U mean light?
Uri means “my light,” while Uriel and Uriah both mean “God is my light” in Hebrew. See our list of names that mean light for more.
Is Ulysses a good baby name?
Yes. Ulysses is the Latin form of Odysseus, hero of Homer’s Odyssey, and was also the first name of President Ulysses S. Grant. It’s rare today but very recognizable.
What U names are in the Bible?
Uriah, Uriel, Uzziah, Uzziel, Uzzi, Uri, Uzal and Urbanus all appear in the Bible.
Why are U names so rare?
Relatively few English words and traditional names begin with U, so fewer names have entered common use. That rarity is exactly what makes them appealing to many parents.