Ursel

Ursel is a feminine first name that has its origins in Latin. It is particularly common in German-speaking regions as a diminutive of Ursula and translates to 'the little bear' or 'the bear cub'.

What does the name Ursel mean?

Ursel is a feminine first name with Latin roots. It is a popular diminutive of Ursula and means 'the little bear' or 'the bear cub'. The name is a diminutive form of the original name Ursa. The Latin term ursa literally means 'the bear', and by adding the suffix -ula, the name becomes 'the little bear'. The first name became well-known especially through the veneration of Saint Ursula. Variations of the name include Ursola, Ursulla, Ursine, Ursina, Ursulane, Ursuline, Urschla and Uorschla (Romansh), Ursulina and Orsola (Italian), Orsina, Ursule (French), Urszula and Usia (Polish), Urse, Ursely, Ursly, Ursela, Urschel, Worsa (Upper Sorbian), Vorsila and Vorschila (Czech), as well as Orsolya and Orsi (Hungarian). Short and pet forms include Uschi, Ulla, Ula, Urseken, Ursle, Urselchen, and Ursi.

Where does the name Ursel come from?

The girl's name Ursel derives as a diminutive and pet form of Ursula. Its origin lies in the Latin language area and represents a diminutive form of the name Ursa. The Latin expression ursa, meaning 'the bear', forms the basis. With the suffix -ula, the name then becomes 'the little bear'.

How do you pronounce Ursel?

The pronunciation of Ursel is two syllables and is pronounced as 'Ur-sel' [ˈʊrzəl]. The strong beginning is slightly emphasized by the 'r' and creates a dense sound base. The ending '-sel' provides a gentle resolution and allows the name to fade harmoniously. Overall, Ursel conveys a balanced, gentle, and clearly structured impression.

When is the name day of Ursel?

The name day for Ursel is celebrated on January 20 and October 21.

Popularity

Ursel is a rather rare first name in Germany. In 2021, it ranked 5,220th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best ranking was achieved in 2006 with position 906. In the last ten years, Ursel has been given as a first name around 20 times, placing it 5,571st in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, the name ranks 6,204th. Worldwide, Ursel is also rare.

Nicknames & pet names

Seli / Ulla / Ursi / Uschi / Wuschel

Famous people

• Ursel Bäumer (German writer)
• Ursel Berger (German art historian)
• Ursel Brunner (swimmer from Germany)
• Ursel Bühring (writer from Germany)
• Ursel Burmeister (German handball player)
• Ursel Fiedler (German table tennis player)
• Ursel Hartenstein (fictional character from Else Ury's 'Nesthäkchen')
• Ursel Hochmuth (writer from Germany)
• Ursel Kessler (artist from America)
• Ursel Meyer-Wolf (German writer)
• Ursel Peter (Austrian poet)
• Ursel Scheffler (German writer)
• Ursel Schlicht (pianist from Germany)