A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Tula since 1882
Babies named Tula per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2019, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Tula's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 28 |
| 1890s | 90 |
| 1900s | 91 |
| 1910s | 217 |
| 1920s | 286 |
| 1930s | 166 |
| 1940s | 125 |
| 1950s | 92 |
| 1960s | 34 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 163 |
| 2010s | 308 |
| 2020s | 195 |
Meaning & origin
Tula is a rare but quietly enduring name in the United States, first recorded in 1882 and reaching its highest popularity in 1899. After a long period of obscurity, it has been rising again since 1998. In 2025, the name ranked 3,712 with a 1-in-40,182 frequency. Its origins are varied: it may be a Spanish and Portuguese diminutive, a place name (including a famous archaeological site in Mexico), or a Native American word. The name's simplicity and open-vowel ending give it a modern feel reminiscent of names like Mila and Lila.
Tula may derive from the Spanish and Portuguese short form of names containing the element -tula, such as Kalandula (a Portuguese feminine name of uncertain meaning). It is also a place name in Mexico and Russia, and has been recorded as a Choctaw name meaning 'leaping water.' As a given name in the United States, Tula has been in sporadic use since the late 19th century, with a revival in recent decades.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Tulia
Sibling names for Tula
Names that share Tula's style, for a brother or sister.
