Girl Names Starting with U

The Names

• Ula: The name is a short form that can be linked to various longer names such as Ursula or Ulrike. A single sweeping meaning would be too imprecise here.
• Ulani: This name originates from Hawaiian; the base word means "the cheerful one" or "the joyful one".
• Ulfa: Traces back to the Old High German word for "wolf" and is documented as a feminine form of Ulf.
• Uliana: This is a Slavic and Italian form of the name Juliana, which traces back to the Roman family of the Julii.
• Ulima: The name is widely translated as "the wise" or "the learned"; its origin from the Arabic-speaking world is considered established, though the exact root may vary.
• Uljana: The Russian and Ukrainian variant of Juliana, documented as a derivation of the Roman name Julius.
• Ulla: Documented as a short form of Ursula or Ulrike and is primarily used in the Scandinavian and German-speaking regions.
• Ulla-Britt: A Scandinavian double name combining the short form Ulla with Britt (derived from Birgitta, "the exalted one").
• Ulrica: The Latin, Swedish, or Italian spelling of the name Ulrike.
• Ulrike: Composed of the Old High German words for "heritage" or "possession" and "powerful".
• Uma: Traces back to Sanskrit and is the name of the Hindu goddess Parvati; the documented translation is "light" or "splendor".
• Umay: Originates from Turkic mythology, in which Umay is considered a goddess of fertility.
• Umayma: An Arabic name whose root word translates to "little mother".
• Umeko: A Japanese name; the kanji characters used generally mean "plum" and "child".
• Umiko: Likewise Japanese; here the root words usually signify "sea" and "child".
• Una: Una can be a form of the Irish Úna. Here, a connection to the word for "lamb" is assumed. Alongside this, there is a Nordic naming history and a literary connection to Latin una, "one". These origins should not be conflated.
• Undine: Traces back to the Latin word "unda" for "wave" and refers to a water nymph in mythology.
• Unity: An English vocabulary name that directly adopts the word for "unity".
• Unna: The older word meaning of this name family has not been definitively clarified. It may be a variant of Una or carry a geographic reference.
• Urania: Originates from Greek ("ouranos" for "heaven" or "sky") and is the muse of astronomy in mythology.
• Urbana: The feminine form of Urban; the Latin root word means "urban" or "refined".
• Uriana: The exact derivation is unclear; it is presumably an elaboration of Uria or a variant of Urania.
• Uriela: The Hebrew root word means "God is my light"; it is the feminine form of Uriel.
• Ursina: A variant of Ursula widespread particularly in Switzerland, based on the Latin word for "bear".
• Ursula: Traces back to Latin "ursa"; the diminutive form translates to "little bear".
• Urte: A Baltic short form, often derived from Dorothea. The frequently cited direct translation "gift of God" is an interpretation rather than the complete history of the name.
• Uschi: Documented as a German pet form of Ursula.
• Uta: Based on the Old High German word "ot", which stands for "possession" or "heritage".
• Ute: An established spelling variant of Uta with identical Old High German origins.
• Uxia: A Galician form of Eugenia. The Greek root word means "well-born".

Pronunciation and Spelling in Everyday Life

In German, the letter U is pronounced very distinctly and clearly. This makes traditional names like Uta or Ulla straightforward for those around you, as the spelling matches the pronunciation. With international names, however, you should briefly consider how you want to call your child in everyday life. An English name like Unity begins with a "y" sound ("Yoo-ni-ty"). With very short names like Uma or Una, there is also a slight risk of auditory confusion over the phone with similar-sounding names like Ina or Oona. It is best to say your favorite name out loud a few times together with your last name to test the rhythm.

The Next Step in Finding a Name

If names starting with U appeal to you, you can specifically add them to your selection. In the HeyName app, you have the option to set the filter to the initial letter U. Rate the suggestions independently of one another as "Favorite", "Maybe", or "Not a match". As soon as you have connected your devices via an invitation, the names that both of you marked as a favorite will appear as mutual matches. This allows you to see right away which U names you agree on, so you can discuss this shortlist together and try them out with your last name.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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