Girl names starting with U could be called the rarest of the rare.
The letter U ranks dead last – 26th out of the 26 letters of the alphabet – in terms of popularity for girls’ names. Look for girl names starting with U in the US Top 1000 and you’ll find zero.
None!
It’s the only letter that fails to send at least a name or two to the popularity charts.
And while it hasn’t always been quite that dire, the simple truth is that U names aren’t terribly plentiful for our daughters, at least not in English.
Still, a handful of options exist. And they’re all the more intriguing for offering such a rare and compelling initial. In an age where every playground is packed with Emmas and Ellas, Avas and Amelias, Olivias and Isabellas, there’s something delightful about girl names starting with U – the long-neglected vowel.
Table of Contents
GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH U
ULA, ULI
Short for several U names, like Ulrica and sometimes Ursula.
ULRICA
German and Scandi names give us Ulrich and Ulrikke, all from a mix of Germanic and Old English roots. Ulrica is rare, but possibly wearable. After all, it sounds something like former favorites Erica and Veronica.
UMA
A Hindu goddess name, Uma is on everyone’s list of girl names beginning with U thanks to actor Uma Thurman. It means flax. A new generation also knows Uma as the daughter of Ursula in Disney’s Descendants.
UMI
This sweet mini name comes from a Japanese word meaning sea.
UNA
Several origins are possible, including the Latin word for one – which ties Una to Unity – or an Irish name meaning lamb, and sometimes spelled Oona or Oonagh.
UNDINE
A mermaid name, Undine comes from the Latin word for wave.
UNIQUA
A more name-like take on Unique.
UNIQUE
While the word literally means one of one, girls named Unique are surprisingly plentiful. Around 100 girls – or more – have been named Unique every year since the late 1980s. It’s even made it into the Top 1000 a handful of times, making Unique a contender for the most popular of girl names starting with U.
UNITY
A word name that ought to fit with virtues like Amity and Felicity, Unity has been hobbled by the long shadow of Unity Mitford, an English socialite and Nazi sympathizer. As her memory fades, there’s been a clear uptick in the name’s use.
URANIA
We name our daughters after goddesses like Thalia and Clio, so how about fellow Muse Urania? Her name means heavenly, and in Greek myth, she’s the Muse responsible for astronomy.
URSELLA
A sometimes seen variant of Urusla. The -ella ending might make it feel a little more contemporary. (Though it doesn’t really distance the name from the pop culture associations.)
URSULA
From the Latin ursa, meaning bear, offbeat Ursula is known to this generation of parents as Phoebe’s evil twin on Friends and, of course, the sea witch who grants Ariel’s wish in The Little Mermaid.
UZOAMAKA
Igbo names – often used in Nigeria – have some of the most appealing meanings. Uzoamaka is no exception; it means “a good path.” That makes it something like the popular Journey. It makes this list thanks to Emmy-winning actress Uzoamaka “Uzo” Aduba, born in Boston to parents of Nigerian descent.
What are your favorite girl names beginning with U?
I always secretly loved Ursula. Also it really bothers me that the octopus sea witch is call bear.
Ursula is bearable (no pun intended!) but I’m not overly fond of its meaning since bears are so often persecuted and barbarically treated.
By no means as beautiful as Leilani imho, but arguably prettier than most U choices is Hawaiian name Uilani (pronounced oo-ee-LAH-nee)) meanng something like ‘majestic beauty’ .
There’s also the author Uzma Jalaluddin, who makes me think of the name Uzma!
It’s interesting what you say about Unity Mitford’s Nazi leanings halting the use of Unity more widely, the BBC are currently showing (in the UK, but I’m sure it’ll be over in the States soon) their new adaption of Nancy’s semi autobiographical novel The pursuit of love. Over the last 2 weeks there have been several newspaper articles about the Mitfords’ childhood, they were quite interesting
Ume’s probably my favourite U name! Nameberry gives the meanings “plum blossom, child, patient”. Lovely!