Ursa

♀ Girl

Pronounced UR-suh /ˈɜr.sə/High

Meaning: Ursa is Latin for 'she-bear,' the feminine of ursus. It names the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor — the Great and Little Bear — and is the root of Ursula, 'little she-bear.'High

In 30 seconds: Bear and star at once: Ursa is Latin for 'she-bear' and the name of two constellations (said 'UR-suh').

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Origin HighLatin

MeaningUrsa is Latin for 'she-bear,' the feminine of ursus. It names the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor — the Great and Little Bear — and is the root of Ursula, 'little she-bear.'

U.S. rank (2024)#13319 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 62

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

Ursa is the Latin word for a she-bear, the feminine of ursus. It is best known from the night sky, where Ursa Major and Ursa Minor wheel around the pole, and it is the root of the saint's name Ursula, 'little she-bear.' As a given name it is short, strong and celestial (said 'UR-suh').

It appears only very rarely for girls in the U.S. Very rare, celestial, and strong.

Did you know? Ursa Major and Ursa Minor — the Great Bear and the Little Bear — have guided navigators for millennia; the Little Bear holds the North Star. Ursa is simply 'she-bear' in Latin.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Ursa — Latin ursa 'she-bear'; Ursa Major/Minor constellations; root of Ursula

Variations

UrsulaOrsaUrsella

Nicknames

UrsiSasa

Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ursa mean?

Ursa is Latin for 'she-bear'; it also names the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

How do you pronounce Ursa?

It's said UR-suh /ˈɜr.sə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ursa a boy or girl name?

Ursa is used as a girl's name; the Latin word is feminine.

How popular is Ursa?

Ursa is a very rare name for girls in the U.S.