Girl Names That Start With U
Fewer than one in a thousand American girls gets a name starting with U, so choosing one almost guarantees your daughter will be the only one in her class. The letter is rare but not empty: Una and Ursula have centuries of history, Uma has film-star polish, and languages from Hawaiian to Hindi to Igbo supply beautiful U names. We gathered 90+ girl names that start with U, each with a real meaning and origin.
If a U name feels bold, it also makes a striking middle name. For other rare letters, see girl names that start with V and Y, the boys’ list of boy names that start with U, or our broader unique girl names.
Classic U names with real history
The best-known U names in the English-speaking world. Several have been used continuously since the Middle Ages.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Una | Lamb (Irish Úna); one (Latin) | Irish/Latin |
| Uma | Flax, light; a name of the goddess Parvati | Sanskrit |
| Ursula | Little she-bear | Latin |
| Unity | Oneness, harmony | English virtue name |
| Ulla | Short form of Ulrika, “prosperous ruler” | Scandinavian |
| Urith | Uncertain; a Devon saint | Old English (Cornish/Devon) |
| Ursley | Medieval English form of Ursula | English |
| Ulrica | Prosperous ruler | English form of Germanic Ulrike |
| Ula | Possibly “jewel of the sea” (Celtic); short for Ulla | Celtic/Scandinavian |
| Undine | Wave; a water spirit | Latin (unda), via Paracelsus |
| Urania | Heavenly | Greek |
| Uriel | God is my light | Hebrew |
European girl names beginning with U
Everyday names across Northern and Eastern Europe. Find more in Swedish girl names and Ukrainian girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin / pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Ulrika | Prosperous ruler | Swedish (ool-REE-ka) |
| Ulrike | Prosperous ruler | German (ool-REE-keh) |
| Ulva | She-wolf | Swedish |
| Ulyana | Youthful (from Juliana) | Russian/Ukrainian (oo-LYAH-na) |
| Uliana | Youthful | Ukrainian/Italian |
| Urszula | Little she-bear | Polish (oor-SHOO-la) |
| Urska | Little bear, diminutive of Ursula (Urška) | Slovene |
| Ustinya | Just, fair (from Justina) | Russian |
| Ute | Prosperity, wealth (from Oda) | German (OO-teh) |
| Ugne | Fire (Ugnė, from ugnis) | Lithuanian (OOG-neh) |
| Ulvhild | Wolf + battle | Norwegian |
| Ulrikke | Prosperous ruler | Norwegian |
| Unnur | Wave | Icelandic |
| Ursa | She-bear | Latin |
| Ulyssa | Feminine of Ulysses | Latin/English |
| Umbria | The Italian region | Italian |
| Uxue | Dove | Basque (oo-SHOO-eh) |
Sanskrit and Indian U names
India offers the richest supply of U names for girls. See more in Indian girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Usha | Dawn | Sanskrit |
| Urvi | Earth | Sanskrit |
| Urmila | Enchantress; wife of Lakshmana in the Ramayana | Sanskrit |
| Urvashi | Celestial dancer (apsara) | Sanskrit |
| Udita | Risen, awakened | Sanskrit |
| Ujjwala | Bright, radiant | Sanskrit |
| Ulka | Meteor | Sanskrit |
| Unnati | Progress, rising | Sanskrit |
| Upasana | Worship, devotion | Sanskrit |
| Urja | Energy | Sanskrit |
| Urmi | Wave | Sanskrit |
| Utpala | Blue lotus | Sanskrit |
| Uttara | North; princess in the Mahabharata | Sanskrit |
| Umika | A name of Parvati | Sanskrit |
| Ujala | Light, brightness | Hindi/Urdu |
| Ushma | Warmth | Sanskrit |
| Uditi | Rising, ascending | Sanskrit |
Arabic and Muslim girl names starting with U
Arabic U names are often soft and meaningful. Explore more Muslim girl names and Arabic girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Umaima | Little mother | Arabic |
| Ulfa | Harmony, intimacy | Arabic |
| Umniya | Wish, desire | Arabic |
| Uzma | Greatest | Arabic |
| Urooj | Ascent, rising | Arabic/Urdu |
| Ulayya | Exalted, high | Arabic |
| Unsa | Friendliness, companionship | Arabic |
| Ulima | Wise, learned | Arabic |
Japanese U names
Japanese names get their meaning from the kanji chosen, so meanings below reflect common spellings. For more, see Japanese girl names.
| Name | Common kanji / meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Umi | 海, sea | Short and modern |
| Ume | 梅, plum blossom | Classic, rustic |
| Umeko | 梅子, plum blossom child | Popular in the Meiji era |
| Uta | 歌, song | Also a surname |
| Utako | 歌子, song child | Vintage |
| Urara | 麗, beautiful; bright spring day | Poetic |
| Ukyo | 右京, the right side of Kyoto | Rare, historic |
| Usagi | 兎, rabbit | Famous from Sailor Moon |
U names from Africa, Asia and Hawaii
Names from Igbo, Swahili, Xhosa, Somali, Vietnamese, Mongolian and Hawaiian. Browse African girl names and Hawaiian girl names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Uchenna | God’s will | Igbo |
| Uchechi | God’s thought, God’s will | Igbo |
| Ugochi | God’s eagle, God’s pride | Igbo |
| Ugonna | Father’s pride | Igbo |
| Uzoma | Good road, good path | Igbo |
| Unathi | God is with us | Xhosa |
| Urembo | Beauty | Swahili |
| Uzuri | Beauty | Swahili |
| Ubah | Flower | Somali |
| Uyen | Graceful, gentle (Uyên) | Vietnamese |
| Uyanga | Melody | Mongolian |
| Ulani | Cheerful, lighthearted | Hawaiian |
| Uilani | Heavenly beauty | Hawaiian |
| Uluwehi | Lush greenery | Hawaiian |
| Ululani | Heavenly inspiration | Hawaiian |
Mythological and heavenly U names
Goddesses of dawn, fate and the heavens. More in goddess names and mythology girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ushas | Dawn | Vedic goddess of the dawn |
| Urd | Fate, what has become | Norse Norn of the past (Urðr) |
| Unn | Wave | One of the nine wave daughters of Ægir, Norse |
| Uni | Uncertain | Etruscan supreme goddess, equal of Juno |
| Uttu | Uncertain | Sumerian goddess of weaving |
| Ukemochi | Goddess who protects food | Japanese Shinto |
| Uriela | God is my light | Feminine form of the archangel Uriel |
| Urit | Light | Hebrew |
Modern and word names starting with U
Newer choices in American usage. They feel inventive yet rooted in real words.
| Name | Meaning / source | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Umber | Earthy brown pigment | Artsy |
| Utopia | An ideal place (Thomas More, 1516) | Dreamy |
| Unique | One of a kind | Statement name |
| Utah | The state; named after the Ute people | Western |
| Umbra | Shadow | Mysterious |
Tips for choosing a U name
- Say it slowly. Many U names start with an “oo” sound (Uma, Ulla), while others use “yoo” (Unity, Urania). Decide which you prefer.
- Try it as a middle name. Una, Uma and Ula slip easily between a first name and surname.
- Check the vowel run. U names ending in -a meet surnames beginning with a vowel awkwardly (Una Adams).
- Learn the culture. Many U names come from Sanskrit, Igbo or Hawaiian traditions; knowing the meaning helps you honor it.
- Pair it with a sibling set. U names sit well beside other rare letters; see girl names that start with Z.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common girl name starting with U?
In the US, Uma and Una are the U names given most often, though both remain rare in SSA data. Ursula is the best-known historic choice.
What is a pretty girl name that starts with U?
Ulani (“cheerful” in Hawaiian), Umeko (“plum blossom child” in Japanese), Urania (“heavenly” in Greek) and Una are often described as especially pretty.
Are there any biblical girl names that start with U?
No woman in the Bible has a name starting with U. Families often use Uriela, the feminine of the archangel Uriel, or Urit, a Hebrew name meaning “light.”
What does Ursula mean?
Ursula means “little she-bear” in Latin. It was made famous by St. Ursula, a legendary 4th-century British princess.
Which U names mean light or dawn?
Usha and Ushas mean dawn, while Uriel, Uriela, Urit and Ujala mean light.