Here you’ll find 11 Literary girl names that start with U that begin with U, organized from “Ugenia” to “Uttu”. These names range from classical mythic figures to modern novelist inventions, and many remain uncommon.
Literary girl names that start with U are female names appearing in novels, poems, plays, and myth. They often carry narrative meaning, for example Ugenia appears in children’s fiction while Uttu traces to Sumerian myth.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Pronunciation, and Meaning.
Name: The literary name as used in texts, helping you quickly spot the exact form and spelling.
Origin: Shows the author or work and language, so you understand the cultural and historical source.
Pronunciation: Gives a simple phonetic respelling so you can say the name confidently and correctly.
Meaning: Explains etymology or literary significance, helping you judge symbolism and emotional or thematic fit.
Literary girl names that start with U
| Name | Origin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Una | Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene (English, 1590) | OO-nah | unity; one | Allegorical heroine in Spenser’s epic, symbolizing truth and unity; later adopted widely as a poetic, gentle given name. |
| Ursula | William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing (English, c. 1598) and later literature | URS-uh-luh | little bear (Latin) | Used by Shakespeare as a gentlewoman; later appears across literature (e.g., D.H. Lawrence). Classic, saintly Latin roots give it old-world charm. |
| Undine | Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, Undine (German, 1811) | un-DEEN | water-nymph | Novella heroine who is a water spirit; an author-coined/romantic-folklore name often associated with mythic, aquatic femininity. |
| Ulalume | Edgar Allan Poe, poem “Ulalume” (English, 1847) | yoo-luh-LOOM | likely invented; poetic name | Title figure in Poe’s melancholic poem; evocative, Gothic-sounding name used mainly in literary and poetic contexts. |
| Ulla | Carl Michael Bellman, Fredmans Epistlar (Swedish, 1790) — character Ulla Winblad | OO-lah | diminutive of Ulrika; little ruler (root) | Famous muse-like character Ulla Winblad in Bellman’s songs; charming Swedish literary name with playful, lively associations. |
| Urania | Hesiod, Theogony (Greek, c. 700 BCE) and classical poetry | yoo-RAY-nee-uh | heavenly; muse of astronomy | One of the nine Muses in Greek literature, invoked in poetry and later literary works as inspiration for astronomy and poetry. |
| Uma | Valmiki, Ramayana (Sanskrit, c. 5th–1st century BCE) and Hindu literature | OO-ma | splendor; Parvati (goddess) | Traditional name of the goddess Parvati, appearing throughout Sanskrit epics and classical poetry; revered and widely used in literature and devotional texts. |
| Usha | Rigveda (Sanskrit, c. 1,500–1,200 BCE) and classical Sanskrit literature | OO-sha | dawn | Vedic figure and goddess of the dawn appearing in ancient hymns and later epic poetry; luminous, poetic name with deep mythic roots. |
| Uttu | Sumerian myth (e.g., “Enki and Ninhursag”) (Sumerian, c. 2,100 BCE) | OO-too | weaver; young goddess | Sumerian goddess of weaving attested in ancient mythic poetry; rare but verifiably literary, with an archaic, mythic feel for a baby name. |
| Ugenia | Gyles Brandreth, Ugenia Lavender series (English, 2008) | yoo-JEE-nee-uh | playful coinform of Eugenia | Children’s-book heroine created by Brandreth; whimsical, modern literary-coined name with a friendly, storybook vibe. |
| Urmila | Valmiki, Ramayana (Sanskrit, c. 5th–1st century BCE) | UR-mee-lah | from Sanskrit “urmi” meaning wave | Prominent female figure in the Ramayana (wife of Lakshmana); classical Indian literary name with devoted and tragic associations. |