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U-nique

vintageluvs
By vintageluvs
Updated Sat May 20 2023
Resources: Behind the Names and Infernal Dreams
  1. Ulysses

    • Origin:

      Latin variation of Odysseus, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wrathful"

    • Description:

      Ulysses is one of the few U boys' names anyone knows -- with heavy links to the Homeric hero of The Odyssey, the eighteenth US president Ulysses Grant, and the James Joyce novel -- all of which makes it distinguished, if a little weighty, for a modern boy.
  2. 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.)
  3. 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.
  4. Uma

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Ula

    • Origin:

      Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "gem of the sea"

    • Description:

      Ula is among the unusual U names that may have a range of origins and meanings, from the Celtic one given here to its possibilities as a short form of Eulalia or Ursula. Ulla is a Scandinavian name usually an abbreviation of Ursula or Ulrika.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Unique

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Meaning:

      "one of a kind"

    • Description:

      Finding a really distinctive name is probably a better way to make sure your child stands out, but then again, is choosing Unique really any different to parents choosing Saint, Messiah, Chosen, Dream, Miracle, or Blessing?
  13. Undine

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "little wave"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "plum-blossom child, patient"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "heavenly"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Basque

    • Meaning:

      "cowherd"

    • Description:

      Popular name in Spain's Basque country, thanks to cowboyish meaning, virtually unknown elsewhere.
  17. Uzi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is my strength"

    • Description:

      Despite its biblical pedigree and popularity in Israel, it has far too many ties to the lethal submachine gun to find many fans here.
  18. Udo

    • Origin:

      Igbo

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Udo is the Igbo word for peace, and, in Nigeria, is a name usually reserved for men. Related names include Akudo, Udoka and Udo-Amaka.
  19. Uailean

    • Description:

      Uailean is a rare masculine name with Scottish Gaelic origins. It's a variant of the name William, derived from the Gaelic 'Uilleam.' This uncommon name carries deep Celtic heritage and represents the cultural traditions of the Scottish Highlands. Historically used in Gaelic-speaking regions of Scotland, Uailean has remained exceedingly rare outside these communities. The name follows traditional Gaelic pronunciation patterns, which may present challenges in non-Gaelic speaking regions. Those who choose this name typically have strong connections to Scottish heritage or seek to honor ancestral roots. Its scarcity makes it distinctive, appealing to parents searching for a name with authentic historical significance and unique cultural resonance.

  20. Urien

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "of privileged birth"

    • Description:

      Too close to the name of a bodily fluid.

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