Ulrike

The first name Ulrike is the feminine form of Ulrich, an old German variant of the Old High German Uodalrich and the originally Germanic Udalrich. Directly translated, it means 'the rich heiress', 'the ruler of the homeland', 'the ruler of the realm', and 'the heritage of the powerful ruler'.

What does the name Ulrike mean?

The first name Ulrike is the feminine form of Ulrich, an old German variant of the Old High German Uodalrich and the originally Germanic Udalrich. Directly translated, it means 'the rich heiress', 'the ruler of the homeland', 'the ruler of the realm', and 'the heritage of the powerful ruler'. The origin of the old German two-part name lies in Old High German. Its derivation comes from the word elements uodal for 'the heritage', 'the ancestral estate', 'the inheritance', 'the homeland', or 'the possession' and rihhi for 'rich', 'powerful', 'the power', 'the rule', or 'the ruler'. In naming, Ulrike has only been in use since the 18th century. Since the 17th century, many girls' names, especially among the nobility, were formed with the endings '-ike' or '-ine'. At that time, these variants spread particularly well, as they allowed parents to create a feminine form from numerous first names. This was due to the previously prevailing tradition of naming for godparents. In German-speaking areas, the name Ulrike has been a popular girls' name since the 1930s. Particularly in the 1950s, it ranked among the most popular first names for newborns, alongside Ulrich. Other variants include Ulrika, Ulrica, Ulrikke, Ullrike, Ullrika, Ulrique, Ulli, and Ulla.

Where does the name Ulrike come from?

Etymology Ulrike is a feminine first name of Old High German origin meaning 'the rich heiress'. Old High German

How do you pronounce Ulrike?

Sound & pronunciation of Ulrike: The name Ulrike is three to four syllables and distinctly structured. In German pronunciation, it is usually spoken as 'Ul-ri-ke' [ʊlˈʁiːkə], with the long 'ri' syllable carrying the emphasis. The consonant sequence gives the name structure and firmness. Ulrike appears powerful and matter-of-fact - independent, present, and strong in character.

When is the name day of Ulrike?

The name day of Ulrike is May 8 and July 4.

Popularity

As a feminine first name, Ulrike initially had limited visibility in Germany but gained significant relative popularity starting in the 1940s. From rather lower placements, Ulrike developed within a few decades into a clearly noticeable first name that moved strongly forward compared to many other names of its generation. Its most defining phase in Germany was from the late 1940s to the 1970s.

Nicknames & pet names

Icke / Ike / Kika / Kiki / Rickchen / Rickele / Ricki / Ricky / Rieke / Rika / Rikchen / Rike / Riki / Rikscha / Riulke / Rixi / Uhlchen / Uki / Ulerike / Ulfrike / Uli / Ulichen / Ulke / Ulki / Ulla / Ulle / Ulli / Ullirike / Ullo / Ulriki / Ulschnicke / Ultschi / Uluschka / Uri

Similar first names

Famous people

• Ulrike A. Kucera (writer from Germany)
• Ulrike Almut Sandig (writer from Germany)
• Ulrike Andresen (painter from Germany)
• Ulrike Beimpold (actress)
• Ulrike Bolenz (painter from Germany)
• Ulrike Dietmann (German writer)
• Ulrike Eleonore Queen of Sweden (Princess of Denmark and Queen of Sweden)
• Ulrike Folkerts (actress (Tatort))
• Ulrike Frank (actress)
• Ulrike Gerold (writer from Germany)
• Ulrike Goldmann (singer with Blutengel)
• Ulrike Grote (German actress)
• Ulrike Gruska (German writer)
• Ulrike Heider (German writer)
• Ulrike Kappler (artist from Germany)
• Ulrike Kargus (German actress)
• Ulrike Kriener (actress)
• Ulrike Laar (painter from Germany)
• Ulrike Längle (Austrian writer)
• Ulrike Lodwig (German actress)