Baby Names Starting With U, Girls and Boys
U is a rare starting letter for baby names in English, so this page covers both girls and boys together rather than splitting into two thinner pages.
U names for girls
- Uma (Sanskrit, tied to a Hindu goddess name, also linked to a word meaning flax or turmeric depending on the source)
- Ursula (Latin, meaning “little bear”)
- Unity (English, a virtue name)
- Uzma (Arabic, meaning “greatness”)
U names for boys
- Uriah (Hebrew, meaning “God is my light”)
- Ulysses (Latin form of the Greek Odysseus, the legendary hero of Homer’s Odyssey)
- Umar (Arabic, commonly read as meaning “flourishing” or “long-lived”)
- Upton (Old English, originally a place name and surname meaning “upper town”)
Quick facts
| Common origins | Sanskrit, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic |
| Common meaning themes | light, strength, virtue |
| Note | U is one of the least-used starting letters for given names in English, so several of these are more established in other languages first |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular baby name starting with U?
Uma and Uriah are among the more recognizable U names currently used in English-speaking countries, though the letter as a whole remains uncommon.
Is Uriel the same name as Uriah?
No, though they share a similar Hebrew root tied to light. Uriah means “God is my light,” while Uriel means “God is my light” in a slightly different grammatical construction and is traditionally the name of an archangel rather than a historical figure.