Ursula

Ursula meaning

Ursula is a Christian girl's name of Latin origin.

Little she-bear (diminutive of Latin ursa, 'she-bear')

Also used to mean: little bear

Ursula is a Latin diminutive of ursa, which Lewis & Short define as a she-bear, and also the name of the two northern constellations, the Great and the Little Bear. So the name means 'little she-bear'. It belongs to St Ursula, who in medieval legend was a British princess martyred at Cologne with her companions on the way back from a pilgrimage to Rome. She became the patron of the Ursulines, an order of nuns devoted to educating girls, and Ursuline convents and schools exist in India too. The name is used mostly by Catholic families.

Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), s.v. ursa · entry ursa · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Lewis & Short, ursa (alatius.com) · Wikipedia, Saint Ursula

Famous namesakes

• St Ursula, legendary martyr of Cologne

Spellings

Ursula · Ursela

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Also meaning nature

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