Cool Baby Names That Start with U
Are there any cool baby names that start with U? It’s the most underused first initial of the baby naming alphabet! Only three U names rank in the US Top 1000, and all for boys — Uriel, Uriah, and Ulises. Ironically, the most common girl name beginning with U is Unique.
There are many cool international names that begin with U, such as the Teutonic Udella, Chinese Ushi, and Xhosa Unathi. A number of interesting place names start with U, such as Utah, Umbria, and Urbana.
So yes, there are some cool baby names that start with U. Namely:
Cool U Names
There are many cool international names that begin with U, such as the Teutonic Udella, Chinese Ushi, and Xhosa Unathi. A number of interesting place names start with U, such as Utah, Umbria, and Urbana.
So yes, there are some cool baby names that start with U. Namely:
Cool U Names
Unathi
Origin:
XhosaMeaning:
"God is with us"Description:
South African musician Unathi Msengana brings this unusual choice to a wider audience.
Una
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"one; also, lamb"Description:
In an epic poem, the personification of truth, beauty, and unity; this ancient name is popular in Ireland but rarely heard here. The Oona spelling has more oomph.
Ulysses
Origin:
Latin variation of the Greek OdysseusDescription:
Ulysses is one of the few U boys' names anyone knows -- with heavy links to the Homeric hero, eighteenth president Grant, and the James Joyce novel -- all of which makes it both distinguished and kind of weighty for a modern boy. Ulysses was on the US popularity list well into the twenty-first century; it's off now, but Number 684 on Nameberry.
Uriah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my light"Description:
A perfectly respectable Old Testament name ruined forever through its association with the odious Uriah Heep in David Copperfield. Some people also find this name just too close to the word urine. These negative connotations may be wearing off, however. (Perhaps because people don't read as much Dickens as they used to.)
Uma
Origin:
Sanskrit, HebrewMeaning:
"light, peace, nation"Description:
Uma is a sweet, strong name for a Hindu goddess... and a Hollywood one. But as popular as Uma Thurman is, other parents have not yet picked up on her name, making it a rarity.
Uriel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my light"Description:
It's the name of an Old Testament archangel that's symbolically given to boys born during Chanukah, but the possibility of unsavory nicknames (urinal?) make the short form Uri a better bet.
Uri
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my flame, my light"Description:
This short but strong name, commonly heard in Israel, has a lot of crossover potential, and is among the most usable on the minuscule menu of U names.
Urban
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the city"Description:
Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both urban and rural. Yet in this era of word name appreciation and trend for 'an'-ending boys' names, we're thinking it might be ready for a return.
Ursula
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"little female bear"Description:
A saint's name with a noteworthy literary background, including uses by Shakespeare in Two Gentlemen of Verona and Much Ado About Nothing, by Ben Johnson, Walter Scott, Longfellow, D. H. Lawrence and Neil Gaiman. In real life, her two most well known representatives are writer Ursula Le Guin and actress Ursula Andress. In literature, there is also Ursula Iguaran, a key, long-lived character in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's major work, One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Ulla
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"will, determination"Description:
Ulla, the beautiful Swedish secretary in The Producers (played by Uma Thurman in the movie) who purrs, "Ven you got it, flaunt it," has changed the image of this name forever. Ulla may stand on its own or be an abbreviation of Ursula or Ulrika; Ula may be seen as another spelling.
Ursa
Origin:
Short form of Ursula, LatinMeaning:
"little female bear"Description:
Ursa might be a good choice if you're looking for a bear name for your daughter but want to avoid the She Witch curse placed on Ursula by Disney's The Little Mermaid. Too bad, because Ursula is a classic and lovely name, but Ursa has less baggage.
Ulric
Origin:
English variation of Ulrich and Wulfric, GermanMeaning:
"rich and noble heritage; wolf power"Description:
Also related to the word for wolf, this name has a first syllable that's not appealing to the American ear. Better ic-ending choices: Dominic, Frederic, Eric.
Ugo
Origin:
Italian variation of HughMeaning:
"mind, intellect"Description:
Ugo is very common in Italy, but here it might call to mind that little Yugoslavian car.
Undine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"little wave"Description:
Mythological water spirit with the more common spelling of Ondine, heroine of an Edith Wharton novel.
Unity
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"oneness"Description:
Like Verity and Amity, this inclusive virtue name used by the colorful British literary Mitford family is ready to join its more popular peers Hope, Faith, and Grace.
Umeko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"plum-blossom child, patient"Description:
Unfamiliar Asian choice that can work for a parent in search of something really different.
Umberto
Origin:
Italian variation of HumbertMeaning:
"renowned warrior"Description:
A definite improvement over the English Humbert, Umberto has nevertheless been rarely heard outside the Italian community.
Uziah
Origin:
Hebrew, variant spelling of Uzziah, “Jehovah is my strength”Description:
One of the most unusual of the biblical iah-options, this was the name of a long-reigning king of Judea, and just might appeal to the parent looking for a quasi-unique Old Testament choice. And it avoids the negative Dickensian aura of the other New Testament U-name, Uriah.
Uta
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"prosperity, riches"Description:
Medieval name that still hasn't crossed the ocean, known here primarily via actress/teacher Uta Hagen.
Umber
Origin:
Color nameDescription:
A rich brown hue, but can be misheard as Amber, said with a pretentious accent.