Hula as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Hula

What is the meaning of the name Hula ?

The baby name Hula is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced HOO-lah (IPA: /ˈhuːlə/).

Hula is Hawaiian in Origin.

Hula is a Hawaiian word-name meaning “dance,” referencing the Indigenous Hawaiian performance tradition central to storytelling, ceremony, and community. As a given name it remains rare, used in Hawaiʻi and occasionally elsewhere from the early to mid-20th century onward, with modest visibility during the mainland tiki craze and a recent uptick alongside other nature and word-names. The pronunciation is HOO-lah. In contemporary baby naming, Hula is typically feminine but can be considered unisex.

Variants and related forms include the Anglicized spelling Hulah (found in older U.S. records) and the affectionate nickname Huli. In some families Hula also functions as a short form of Hulda/Huldah - names with distinct roots: Hebrew Huldah (“weasel/mole,” borne by a biblical prophetess) and Old Norse Hulda (“hidden; secrecy”), which give Hula alternative etymological pathways beyond Hawaiian. While usage outside Native Hawaiian culture should be thoughtful, the core Hawaiian sense emphasizes rhythmic movement, grace, and joyful celebration.

⚙ Hula is an uncommon pick. Our records hold just 101 recorded uses, spread over 37 countries.