Sula

A literary name with a simple yet alluring sound, Sula may appeal as an alternative to those who like Lula, Lola, Susannah, and Tallulah. The protagonist and titular character of Toni Morrison's 1973 novel, the name may relate to the Old Testament Shulammite (and the Hebrew shalom) or to the Latin Ursula, meaning "little she-bear".

Alternative interpretations of the name are that it derives from Estonian and Finnish, either via the names Sulev and Sulo, meaning "good-natured", "charm" and "grace" or from the word sula, relating to thawed ice or something molten and melted. It is also the name of various places in Norway, likely derived from the Old Norse súla meaning "pillar, cleft", and is additionally the name of a genus of seabirds and a Latvian word for "juice".

Pronounced SOO-luh.

As of October 2026, Sula ranked #13035 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #610 in 1888.