Ursula is a feminine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

in several different languages. The name is derived from a diminutive of the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

''ursa'', which means " bear". The name has been rather uncommon in the

English-speaking world Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the '' Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest langua ...

, although its use has been influenced since the twentieth century by the Swiss-born actress

Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss-German actress, former model and sex symbol who has appeared in American, British and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962 ...

(born 1936). Other forms of the name include: *Úrsula is the variant form in

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

(notice the acute accent) * Ursule is the variant form in French *

Urszula Urszula may refer to: * Franciszka Urszula Radziwiłłowa (1705–1753), Polish-Lithuania-Belarusian noble dramatist and writer * Urszula Augustyn (born 1964), Polish politician * Urszula Dudziak (born 1943), Polish jazz vocalist * Urszula Gacek (b ...

is the variant form in

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...

*Uršulė is the variant form Lithuanian * Orsolya is the variant form in Hungarian *Urška is the variant form in

Slovenian Slovene or Slovenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Slovenia, a country in Central Europe * Slovene language, a South Slavic language mainly spoken in Slovenia * Slovenes The Slovenes, also known as Slovenians ( sl, Sloven ...

*Uršula is the variant form in Bosnian

People

Saint Ursula Saint Ursula (Latin for 'little female bear', german: link=no, Heilige Ursula) is a legendary Romano-British Christian saint who died on 21 October 383. Her feast day in the pre-1970 General Roman Calendar is 21 October. There is little in ...

(died 383) *Ursula, theoretical founding ancestor of

Haplogroup U (mtDNA) Haplogroup U is a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup (mtDNA). The clade arose from haplogroup R, likely during the early Upper Paleolithic. Its various subclades (labelled U1–U9, diverging over the course of the Upper Paleolithic) are foun ...

* Ursula of Brandenburg, Duchess of Münsterberg-Oels (1450–1508), a princess of Brandenburg by birth *

Ursula of Brandenburg Ursula, Margravine of Brandenburg (17 October 1488 – 18 September 1510) was a German noblewoman. She was born in Berlin, the daughter of John Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg, and Margarethe of Saxony. At age 19, on 16 February 1507 she marri ...

(1488–1510), German noblewoman *

(born 1936), Swiss actress * Ursula Appolloni (1929–1994), Canadian politician *

Ursula Bagdasarjanz Ursula Bagdasarjanz (born 30 June 1934) is a Swiss violinist. Early life Ursula Bagdasarjanz was born in Winterthur, Switzerland, to a mother who was herself a violinist. The seeds of Ursula's musical talent were sown in the cradle, or, as s ...

(born 1934), Swiss violinist *

Ursula Bloom Ursula Bloom (11 December 1892 – 29 October 1984) was a British novelist, biographer and journalist. Biography Ursula Harvey Bloom was born on 11 December 1892 in Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex, the daughter of the Reverend James Harvey B ...

(1892–1984), British novelist *

Ursula Buckel Ursula Buckel (11 February 1926 – 5 December 2005) was a German soprano singer, known for singing works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Career Born in the Thuringian town of Lauscha, Ursula Buckel studied singing in the School of Church Music in B ...

(1925–2005), German soprano singer *

Ursula Burns Ursula M. Burns (born September 20, 1958) is an American businesswoman. Burns is mostly known for being the CEO of Xerox from 2009 to 2016, the first among black women to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and the first woman to succeed another a ...

(born 1958), American businesswoman * Ursula Caberta, (born 1950), German politician, critic of the Church of Scientology *

Úrsula Corberó Úrsula Corberó Delgado (born 11 August 1989) is a Spanish actress and model. She is best known for her roles as Ruth Gómez in ''Física o química'' (2008–2010), Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy, Margarita de Austria in the television ...

, (born 1989), Spanish actress *

Lady Ursula d'Abo Lady Ursula Isabel d'Abo (''née'' Manners, formerly Marreco; 8 November 1916 – 2 November 2017) was an English socialite and aristocrat who served as a maid of honour to the Queen at the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 193 ...

(1917–2017); English socialite *

Ursula Dubosarsky Ursula Dubosarsky (born ''Ursula Coleman''; 1961 in Sydney) is an Australian writer of fiction and non-fiction for children and young adults, whose work is characterised by a child's vision and comic voice of both clarity and ambiguity. She ha ...

(born 1961), Australian writer * Ursula Engelen-Kefer (born 1943), German labor leader * Ursula Eriksson (born 1967), Swedish murderer accused of manslaughter in Britain * Ursula Fanthorpe (1929–2009), British poet *

Ursula Franklin Ursula Martius Franklin (16 September 1921 – 22 July 2016) was a German-Canadian metallurgist, research physicist, author, and educator who taught at the University of Toronto for more than 40 years.Lumley, Elizabeth (editor) (2008), ''Canadi ...

(1921–2016), Canadian metallurgist * Ursula Gauthier, French journalist * Ursula Gibson, American physicist *

Uschi Glas Helga Ursula "Uschi" Glas (; born 2 March 1944), sometimes credited as Ursula Glas, is a German actress in film, television and on stage, and a singer. Biography Born in Landau an der Isar, Bavaria, Glas started appearing in films in 1965. ...

(born 1944), German actress *

Ursula Goodenough Ursula W. Goodenough (born March 16, 1943) is a Professor of Biology Emerita at Washington University in St. Louis were she engaged in research on eukaryotic algae. She authored the textbook ''Genetics'' and the best-selling boo''The Sacred Dep ...

(born 1943), American biologist and writer *

Ursula Hayden Ursula Hayden (born Ursa Bamby Hayden; March 8, 1966 – December 3, 2022) was an American professional wrestler, actress, and businesswoman. She was best known for her character Babe the Farmer's Daughter on the 1980s television show ''Gorgeous ...

(born 1966), American professional wrestler, actress, and business woman * Ursula Haubner (born 1945), Austrian politician *

Ursula Hegi Ursula Hegi (born May 23, 1946) is a German-born American writer. She is currently an instructor in the MFA program at Stony Brook Southampton. She was born Ursula Koch in 1946 in Düsseldorf, Germany, a city that was heavily bombed during World ...

(born 1946), American author * Ursula Herrmann (died 1981), German female murder victim *

Ursula Holden-Gill Ursula Holden-Gill is an English Actress and Dramatherapist, best known for her roles as school secretary Carol on Channel 4's comedy drama ''Teachers'' (2001–2004), Alice Dingle on ITV's soap opera ''Emmerdale'' (2004–2006) and Miss Fitzg ...

(born 1974), British actress *

Ursula Howells Ursula Howells (17 September 1922 – 16 October 2005) was an English actress whose elegant presence kept her much in demand for roles in film and television. Life and career Howells was born in London, the daughter of composer Herbert Howells, ...

(1922–2005), British actress * Ursula Henderson, South Australian politician *

Ursula Jeans Ursula Jean McMinn (5 May 1906 – 21 April 1973), better known as Ursula Jeans, was an English film, stage, and television actress. Biography Jeans was born in Simla, British India, to English parents, and brought up and educated in London. S ...

(1906–1973), British actress *

Ursula Karven Ursula Karven, previously Ursula Karven-Veres (born Ursula Ganzenmüller 17 September 1964 in Ulm) is a German actress, writer, model and yoga instructor. Career Karven made her big screen debut in 1984, at age 20, with the participation in ...

(born 1964), German actress *

Uschi Keszler Ursula "Uschi" Keszler (born August 13, 1948) is a figure skating coach and choreographer and a former competitor for West Germany. Career Uschi Keszler qualified to represent the United Team of Germany at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbru ...

(born 1948), German figure skater * Ursula King (born 1938), German scholar of religion * Ursula Koch (born 1941), Swiss politician * Ursula Kübler (1928–2010), Swiss ballerina and actress * Ursula Ledóchowska (1865–1939), Austrian-born Polish religious leader *

Ursula Lehr Ursula Lehr née Leipold (5 June 1930 – 25 April 2022) was a German academic, age researcher and politician. She was the first professor of gerontology in Germany, with a chair at the University of Heidelberg from 1986. She served as federal ...

(1930–2022), German academic and politician *

Ursula K. Le Guin Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the '' Earthsea'' fantasy series. She was ...

(1929–2018), American author *

Ursula von der Leyen Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen (; Albrecht, born 8 October 1958) is a German politician who has been serving as the president of the European Commission since 2019. She served in the German federal government between 2005 and 2019, holding suc ...

(born 1958), German politician and current President of the European Commission * Ursula Martinez (born 1966), British writer and performer * Úrsula Micaela Morata (1628–1703), Spanish nun *

Ursula Mommens Ursula Frances Elinor Mommens (née Darwin, formerly Trevelyan; 20 August 1908 – 30 January 2010) was an English potter. Mommens studied at the Royal College of Art, under William Staite Murray, and later worked with Michael Cardew at Winch ...

(1908–2010), British potter * Úrsula Murayama, (born 1972) Mexican actress * Ursula Niebuhr (1908–1997), American theologian *

Uschi Obermaier Ursula "Uschi" Obermaier (; born 24 September 1946) is a former fashion model and actress associated with the 1968 left-wing movement in Germany. She is considered an iconic sex symbol of the so-called "1968 generation" and the protests of 1968. ...

(born 1946), German model and actress *

Ursula O'Leary Ursula O'Leary (Birmingham, 10 March 1926 – 17 May 1993) was an English stage, radio and television actressDeaths, The Times, 19 May 1993 She graduated in stage management from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in 1948 and her stag ...

(1926-1993), English actress * Ursula Plassnik (born 1956), Austrian politician * Ursula Pole, Baroness Stafford (c. 1504 – 1570), English noblewoman *

Ursula Ratasepp Ursula Ratasepp (born 17 June 1982) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress. Early life and education Ursula Ratasepp was born in Tallinn in 1982. She is the older sister of actress Katariina Ratasepp (born 1986). She studied drama at ...

(born 1982), Estonian actress *

Ursula Reit Ursula Reit ( Schedereit; 5 March 1914 – 9 November 1998) also Ursula Reith, was a German television and movie actress, best known for her role as Mrs. Gloop, the mother of Golden Ticket winner Augustus Gloop in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate ...

(1914–1998), German actress *

Ursula Rucker Ursula Rucker is an American spoken word recording artist. Rucker is known for a diverse repertoire, and for using techniques that catch her listeners' attention. Biography Rucker was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she wa ...

, American recording artist *

Ursula von Rydingsvard Ursula von Rydingsvard ( née Karoliszyn; born 1942) is a sculptor who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. She is best known for creating large-scale works influenced by nature, primarily using cedar and other forms of timber. Early life an ...

(born 1942), American sculptor *

Ursula Schäppi Ursula Schaeppi or Ursula Schäppi (born 22 June 1940) is a Swiss comedian, radio personality, and stage, voice and film actress starring usually in Swiss German language stage productions and as voice actress in children's literature. Early life ...

(born 1941), Swiss actress, playwright and comedian * Ursula Schleicher (born 1933), German politician and harpist * Ursula Southeil (1488–1561), English soothsayer *

Ursula Stephens Ursula Mary Stephens (; born 7 July 1954) is a former Australian politician. She served as a Australian Senate, Senator for New South Wales from 2002 to 2014, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She was a parliamentary secretary in t ...

(born 1954), Australian politician *

Ursula Vernon Ursula Vernon (born May 28, 1977) is an American freelance writer, artist and illustrator. She has won numerous awards for her work in various mediums, including the Hugo Award for her graphic novel '' Digger'', the Nebula Award for her short st ...

(born 1977), American artist and writer *

Ursula Vaughan Williams Joan Ursula Penton Vaughan Williams (née Lock, formerly Wood; 15 March 1911 – 23 October 2007) was an English poet and author, and biographer of her second husband, the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. Biography Born in Valletta, Malta, th ...

(1911–2007), British poet * Ursula Moray Williams (1911–2006), British author *

Ursula Wyss Ursula Wyss (born 8 February 1973 in Davos) is a Swiss politician and economist. She represented the Canton of Bern in the Swiss National Council as member of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP) from 6 December 1999 to 3 March 2013 ...

(born 1973), Swiss economist and politician *

Urszula Zamoyska Urszula Zamoyska (1750-1808), was a Polish noblewoman and socialite, niece of king Stanisław August Poniatowski. She is known for her public role during the reign of her uncle, when she played the ceremonial role of the hostess of his court. Li ...

(1750–1808), Polish noblewoman and socialite

Fictional characters

*Ursula, in the play ''

Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' ( W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. 1387 The play ...

'' by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

*Ursula the Pig Woman, proprietor of a hot food stall and public lavatory, in the 1614 play '' Bartholomew Fayre: A Comedy'' by

Ben Jonson Benjamin "Ben" Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – c. 16 August 1637) was an English playwright and poet. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence upon English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for t ...

*Ursula Brangwen, in the 1915 novel ''

The Rainbow ''The Rainbow'' is a novel by British author D. H. Lawrence, first published by Methuen & Co. in 1915. It follows three generations of the Brangwen family living in Nottinghamshire, focusing particularly on the individual's struggle to growth ...

'' and the 1920 novel ''

Women in Love ''Women in Love'' (1920) is a novel by English author D. H. Lawrence. It is a sequel to his earlier novel ''The Rainbow'' (1915) and follows the continuing loves and lives of the Brangwen sisters, Gudrun and Ursula. Gudrun Brangwen, an artist, ...

'' by

D. H. Lawrence David Herbert Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer, novelist, poet and essayist. His works reflect on modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct. His best-k ...

*Úrsula Iguarán, in the 1967 novel '' One Hundred Years of Solitude'' by

Gabriel García Márquez Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez (; 6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo () or Gabito () throughout Latin America. Considered one ...

*Ursula Merkle, in the 1960 musical ''

Bye Bye Birdie ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a stage musical with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, based upon a book by Michael Stewart. Originally titled ''Let's Go Steady'', ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is set in 1958. The short story "Dream Man", authored ...

'' *Ursula, on the 1967 animated television series '' George of the Jungle'' and the 1997 live-action film adaptation of the same name *Ursula, in the 1989

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Koganei, Tokyo."Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment". ''Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment''. Retrieved 2020-12-14. It is best known for its animated feature films, and h ...

film ''

Kiki's Delivery Service is a 1989 Japanese Anime, animated fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, adapted from the Kiki's Delivery Service (novel), 1985 novel by Eiko Kadono. It was animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Yamato Transpor ...

'' * Ursula, from the 1989

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

film ''The Little Mermaid'' *

Ursula Buffay Various characters appeared in the sitcom ''Friends'' and its spin-off series ''Joey'', which respectively aired for ten seasons and two seasons on NBC from 1994 to 2006. ''Friends'' featured six main cast members: Rachel Green-Geller (Jennifer A ...

, in the 1990s television sitcoms ''

Mad About You ''Mad About You'' is an American television sitcom starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a married couple in New York City. It initially aired on NBC from September 23, 1992, to May 24, 1999, winning numerous awards including four Golden Glob ...

'' and '' Friends'' *Ursula, in the 1996 film '' Set It Off'' *Ursula, in the 1997 animated television series ''Pokémon'' *Ursula Hanson, a police dispatcher in the 2001 film '' Super Troopers'' *Ursula, in the 2003 video game ''

Fire Emblem is a fantasy tactical role-playing game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. First produced and published for the Famicom in 1990, the series currently consists of sixteen core entries and five spinoffs. ...

'' *Ursula, in the 2004 comic strip ''

Brewster Rockit ''Brewster Rockit: Space Guy!'' is a satirical retro-futuristic comic strip created by Tim Rickard. It chronicles the misadventures of the dim-witted Brewster Rockit, captain of the space station ''R.U. Sirius'', and his crew. Many of the comic ...

'' *Ursula Hartmann, from the 2006 anime/manga series '' Strike Witches'' *Ursula, in the 2006 video game '' Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' * Úrsula, in the 2006 television series ''

Skimo ''Skimo'' is a comedy sitcom made in Mexico. It is produced by Nickelodeon Latin America and Macias Group International. The show first aired on 15 May 2006, and ran at 8:00 pm for the first two seasons. In the third season of the show, it was ...

'' *Ursula Beresford Todd, in the 2013 novel '' Life After Life'' by Kate Atkinson *Ursula, name given to Elizabeth and George Warleggan's daughter in the season 4 finale and fifth season of ''Poldark'' *Ursula Callistis, in the 2017 animated television series ''

Little Witch Academia is a Japanese anime franchise created by Yoh Yoshinari and produced by Trigger. The original short film, directed by Yoshinari and written by Masahiko Otsuka, was released in theaters in March 2013 as part of the Young Animator Trai ...

'' *Ursula, from ''

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 ''Xenoblade Chronicles 2'' is a 2017 action role-playing game developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Released on December 1, it is the third installment in ''Xenoblade Chronicles'' and the seventh main en ...

References

External links

Getting Closer to Nature: The Power of Animal Names - NamepediA Blog
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