Ulva
Latin name for green seaweed or algae.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Ulva. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ulva today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ulva births was 1916 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ulva. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ulva. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1916
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1916 SSA rank
#5,096
Tracked since 1916
Popularity
Ulva: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ulva by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ulva during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ulva
The name Ulva is thought to have originated from the Old Norse language, with roots tracing back to the Viking Age in Scandinavia. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "ulfi," which means "wolf." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with strength, ferocity, and a connection to nature.
During the Viking era, which spanned from the late 8th century to the late 11th century, the name Ulva was likely used among the Norse people inhabiting regions such as modern-day Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and parts of northern Europe. The name's prevalence during this period can be attributed to the Vikings' reverence for nature and their cultural traditions, which often involved giving names inspired by animals or natural elements.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ulva can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, which are a collection of historical narratives and mythological tales from the Viking Age. In these sagas, Ulva is mentioned as the name of a female character, possibly indicating that the name was used for both genders in that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ulva. One such person was Ulva Engelbrechtsdotter (c. 1390-1460), a Swedish noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the political affairs of her time. Another notable figure was Ulva Eriksdotter (c. 1430-1490), a Swedish landowner and prominent figure in the Scandinavian nobility during the 15th century.
In the realm of literature, Ulva appears as the name of a character in the Icelandic novel "Njál's Saga," written in the late 13th century. This work is considered one of the most significant literary works of the Old Norse period and provides insights into the cultural and societal norms of that era.
Moving forward in history, Ulva Jacobsdotter (c. 1530-1590) was a Swedish noble and landowner who was known for her involvement in legal disputes over property rights during the 16th century. Additionally, Ulva Jönsdotter (c. 1580-1650) was a Swedish noblewoman and landowner who played a role in the political and social affairs of her time.
While the name Ulva may have had its roots in the Viking Age, it continued to be used in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe for centuries, carrying with it the cultural and historical significance of its Norse origins.
People
Ulva + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ulva as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ulva: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ulva?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ulva going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Ulva a common name?
We classify Ulva as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ulva most popular?
The single biggest year for Ulva was 1916, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ulva is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ulva in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ulva a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ulva in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ulva still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ulva in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ulva can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Ulva?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.