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This is a name that I just don't feel like I could ever give a fair chance, having grown up with TLM. I think I hate how it sounds, but is that opinion free from bias? Certainly not. I just can't.

I adore Ursula! I definitely think its storied history transcends its modern association with the Disney villain.

To me it's too much of a "classic example of an ugly name" type of name, like Gertrude or Mildred. I find the latter to actually be hideous in and of themselves, and while I don't think Ursula is nearly as bad I just can't shake that association with the ugly list.

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I do like a lot of related names, though. I like Ursa or Orsa. Orsola is more usable to me than Ursula. I get the same bear-y feel but without it being an ugly list villain.

The Little Mermaid association is strong for me too. Aside from that, I don't really find the name that pretty, although I'm sure it could grow on me. I don't think it will probably get back in the top 1000 anytime soon but I could be wrong on that.

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The popularity predictor doesn't see it taking a big jump either:
http://time.com/93911/baby-name-predictor/

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It's interesting if you look at the population numbers for Ursula. It actually dropped off before The Little Mermaid came out. It dropped out of the top 1000 in 1984, but the movie didn't come out until 1989. I wonder if there was something else that caused it to drop (over 400 spots in 10 years!) or if it just went out of fashion. Any thoughts?

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I don't think Ursula is a bad name and I don't think of the sea witch from the movie when I hear it. I'm not really sure how I feel about the name Ursula. Sometimes, I think it's quite nice and other times I just don't care for it. I can't see it becoming very popular though.

I immediately think of Ursula from the Little Mermaid and suspect most from my generation or younger would.

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The name sounds kind of slovenly and hulking to me. I don't like it, with or without the evil seawitch associations.

This message was edited 5/30/2014, 8:29 AM

I don't think of "The Little Mermaid", but I really don't know how much other people would. I just think it's an ugly name.

I like Ursula for its long history (all those virgins!), but not enough to use. And the only Ursula I ever knew was called Ursh, which is beyond awful. I don't spend any time considering villainous sea witches.

I love Ursula, I think it's fun, and quirky and quite beautiful.

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It's one of those names, like Gertrude, that seems to be universally hated and thought of as ugly. Maybe it'll come around in another few decades.

I think of Ursula LeGuin and Ursula Andress.
So to me it seems smart and pretty, as well as just being really cool as a name.

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I've never seen the Disney movie and I intend to avoid it, and I am 100% sure I would not let other people's associations with that stop me from using it. It wouldn't stop me from calling myself that either. I imagine the name was probably chosen for the character by some baby boomer who thinks Ursula is ugly, and thinks that Ariel is super dainty and is pronounced the same as aerial. And aerial is such a perfect name for a mermaid. :-P

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Anyway I believe that people get over that stuff when they meet a real person with a name. They have to.

This message was edited 5/29/2014, 8:12 PM

Although the Little Mermaid associations are pretty strong for me, I still think it is pretty.

I didn't think about The Little Mermaid at all.But I don't like the name. I pronounce it wrong-"Urs-la".

Disney is so very everywhere that I think most people will think of the witch from the Little Mermaid. And she is not pretty at all.

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The second thing I think of Ursula is bears.
Because of Ursa Major.

Eh, when not thinking of the villainous sea witch, I guess it's not bad. It's got a bit of a smokey sophisticate seductress vibe to it that's kinda cool.

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But, yeah, most people think of the sea witch so I really don't see it getting overly popular, at least not for a very, very long time. I mean, she's one of the more well-known villains from one of the most popular Disney films so it's gonna have that effect.

I had forgotten about the Little Mermaid character so the association isn't there for me till it's pointed out.
But I don't like the name and I don't see it ever becoming anything even close to popular. It never really was popular in the first place. I know an Ursula who is maybe mid-forties or so. Very nice, very pretty, but it doesn't change my feeling about the name.

Ursula is nice, though I do always immediately think of The Little Mermaid! That said, it hasn't put me off the name.