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Tulsa

♀ Girl

Pronounced TUHL-sah /ˈtʌl.sɑ/High

Meaning: From the Oklahoma city Tulsa — from the Creek (Muscogee) Tallasi/Tulsey, 'the old town'; a place-nameLow

In 30 seconds: The old town: Tulsa is the Oklahoma city — 'the old town' (Creek). Bold, fresh, and striking.

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Origin LowCreek, American

MeaningFrom the Oklahoma city Tulsa — from the Creek (Muscogee) Tallasi/Tulsey, 'the old town'; a place-name

U.S. rank (2024)#5575 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births23 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 157

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Tulsa comes from the Oklahoma city — named by the Creek (Muscogee) people who settled there, from Tallasi/Tulsey, 'the old town' (after their former town in Alabama, remembered after the Trail of Tears). A bold, fresh, modern place-name (also a Sanskrit echo of tulsi, the sacred basil; we note the layered associations).

It registers thinly in records. Rare, the-old-town at the root, and striking.

Did you know? Tulsa, the Oklahoma city, comes from the Creek (Muscogee) Tallasi or Tulsey, 'the old town' (named by the Creek who settled there on the Trail of Tears) — a bold, fresh place-name.

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Tulsa — place-name

Variations

TulseyTulsi

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tulsa…

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tulsa mean?

Tulsa is the Oklahoma city, from Creek 'the old town'; a place-name.

How do you pronounce Tulsa?

It's said TUHL-sah /ˈtʌl.sɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Tulsa a boy or girl name?

Tulsa is a girl's name.

How popular is Tulsa?

Tulsa is a very rare name in the U.S.