Cool Baby Names That Start with U

Una

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "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 Odysseus

• Description:

  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:

  Hebrew

• Meaning:

  "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.)

Uri

• Origin:

  Hebrew

• Meaning:

  "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.

Uma

• Origin:

  Sanskrit

• Meaning:

  "nation"

• Description:

  Uma is a throaty, exotic 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:

  Hebrew

• Meaning:

  "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.

Ursula

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "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.

Ursa

• Origin:

  Short form of Ursula, Latin

• Meaning:

  "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.

Urban

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "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.

Ulric

• Origin:

  English variation of Ulrich and Wulfric, German

• Meaning:

  "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.

Ulla

• Origin:

  Scandinavian

• Meaning:

  "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.

Undine

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "little wave"

• Description:

  Mythological water spirit with the more common spelling of Ondine, heroine of an Edith Wharton novel.

Unity

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "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.

Umberto

• Origin:

  Italian variation of Humbert

• Meaning:

  "renowned warrior"

• Description:

  A definite improvement over the English Humbert, Umberto has nevertheless been rarely heard outside the Italian community.

Umeko

• Origin:

  Japanese

• Meaning:

  "plum-blossom child, patient"

• Description:

  Unfamiliar Asian choice that can work for a parent in search of something really different.

Ugo

• Origin:

  Italian variation of Hugh

• Meaning:

  "mind, intellect"

• Description:

  Ugo is very common in Italy, but here it might call to mind that little Yugoslavian car.

Umbrielle

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "one in the shadow"

• Description:

  Pretty French sound, but there might be a lot of "umbrella" cracks.

Undomiel

• Origin:

  Literary name

• Meaning:

  "evening star"

• Description:

  A title given to the elf Arwen in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, meaning “evening star” and usually rendered poetically as Evenstar. Like her revered ancestor Lúthien, Arwen chooses to become mortal in order to marry her human love, Aragorn.

Ulan

• Origin:

  Sudan

• Meaning:

  "firstborn twin"

• Description:

  Twins Ulan and Mulan. We don't think so.

Umina

• Origin:

  Japanese or Quechua

• Meaning:

  "sea or emerald"

• Description:

  As a Japanese name, Umina derives from umi, meaning "sea", combined with a range of other kanji characters.

Upton

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "upper town"

• Description:

  Uppity name associated with muckraking novelist Upton Sinclair.

Urania

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "heavenly"

• Description:

  The name of one of the Greek Muses would be really difficult to bear here on earth.

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.

Umber

• Origin:

  Color name

• Description:

  A rich brown hue, but can be misheard as Amber, said with a pretentious accent.

Usher

• Origin:

  English from French

• Meaning:

  "doorkeeper"

• Description:

  Strongly associated with the mega-popular single-named singer, who was actually the fourth Usher Raymond in his family. He could start a fad.

Uta

• Origin:

  German

• Meaning:

  "prosperity, riches"

• Description:

  Medieval name that still hasn't crossed the ocean, known here primarily via actress/teacher Uta Hagen.

Ushi

• Origin:

  Chinese

• Meaning:

  "the ox"

• Description:

  In China, the ox represents patience and determination, a commendable combination.

Ulesi

Umbria

• Origin:

  Italian place name, from the Umbri, one of the chief tribes settling the Italian nation

• Description:

  Umbria is a lovely, virtually unused Italian name for girls, reflecting the beautiful rolling hills of the area's countryside. And since it's right next door to Tuscany, in which Siena resides, maybe Umbria could be a follow-up to the popular Siena-Sienna.

Urijah

• Origin:

  Spelling variation of Uriah

• Description:

  A creative spelling of Uriah, possibly without the negative connotation. Biblically, Urijah was a prophet mentioned in the book of Jeremiah.

Uilleam

• Origin:

  Scottish variation of William

• Description:

  Most Americans would take the easy way out and spell it Willem, as in artist de Kooning and actor Dafoe.

Utah

• Origin:

  Place-name

• Description:

  This would make a startling but likable choice; poet Dylan Thomas used it for a character in his play "Under Milk Wood."

Ultima

• Origin:

  Latin, Italian

• Meaning:

  "last"

• Description:

  An uncommon Latin and Italian name which would make a fitting choice for a final baby – but be aware that many would associate it with the cosmetics brand or the Ultimo brand of lingerie.

Uduak

• Origin:

  Ibibio

• Meaning:

  "will, desire"

• Description:

  Uduak is a name from the Ibibio language, native to Southern Nigeria.

Uda

• Origin:

  Teutonic

• Meaning:

  "wealthy"

• Description:

  One of several three-letter U-a names -- Uda, Ula, Uma, Una -- take your pick.

Ursino

Uzochi

• Origin:

  Igbo

• Meaning:

  "God's way"

• Description:

  We're always looking for cool new U names (it's the least common initial for first names!) and Uzochi is our latest favorite find. It's an Igbo name derived from the components uzo, meaning "road" or "way," and Chi, referring to God. Uzochi is most frequently used in Nigeria.

Urbana

• Origin:

  Latin, feminine form of Urban

• Meaning:

  "of the city"

• Description:

  If you live in the city, you might call your urban baby Urbana; if you live in the suburbs--don't even think of Surbana.

Uberto

Usman

Unika

Urson

Udella

Ulema

Umayma

• Origin:

  Variation of Umama, Arabic

• Meaning:

  "little mother"

• Description:

  An attractive possibility among girl names starting with U.

Urmi

Urvi

• Origin:

  Sanskrit

• Meaning:

  "wide"