What Does the Name Ulla Mean?
Ulla is a girl's name of Scandinavian/German (short form of Ulrika/Ulrike or Ursula) origin meaning “prosperity/power and rule (from Ulrika, Old German Odalric: 'odal' heritage/prosperity + 'ric' power/ruler) or 'little bear' (when from Ursula). The given gloss 'will, determination' is not supported by either source name..”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Ulla |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Scandinavian/German (short form of Ulrika/Ulrike or Ursula) |
| Meaning | prosperity/power and rule (from Ulrika, Old German Odalric: 'odal' heritage/prosperity + 'ric' power/ruler) or 'little bear' (when from Ursula). The given gloss 'will, determination' is not supported by either source name. |
| Variants | Ulrika, Ulrike, Ursula, Ulli |
| Popularity | Traditional in Sweden, Denmark, and Germany; most common among older generations. |
The meaning and origin of Ulla
The name Ulla means “prosperity/power and rule (from Ulrika, Old German Odalric: 'odal' heritage/prosperity + 'ric' power/ruler) or 'little bear' (when from Ursula). The given gloss 'will, determination' is not supported by either source name.” and has Scandinavian/German (short form of Ulrika/Ulrike or Ursula) origins. A Scandinavian and German short form, most often of Ulrika/Ulrike (from Germanic uodal 'heritage' and richi 'ruler/power') or of Ursula. Used as an independent name.
Variants and related names
Ulla is related to several other names you may recognize: Ulrika, Ulrike, Ursula, Ulli. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Ulla?
Traditional in Sweden, Denmark, and Germany; most common among older generations.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ulla mean?+
The name Ulla means “prosperity/power and rule (from Ulrika, Old German Odalric: 'odal' heritage/prosperity + 'ric' power/ruler) or 'little bear' (when from Ursula). The given gloss 'will, determination' is not supported by either source name.” and is of Scandinavian/German (short form of Ulrika/Ulrike or Ursula) origin.
What is the origin of the name Ulla?+
Ulla originates from Scandinavian/German (short form of Ulrika/Ulrike or Ursula).
Is Ulla a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Ulla has trended in the US over time.
Ulla by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press