Urs as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Urs

What is the meaning of the name Urs ?

The baby name Urs is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /uːrs/ (approx. "oors").

Urs is Latin in Origin.

Urs is a masculine given name most common in German-speaking Switzerland, derived from Latin ursus 'bear.' The meaning evokes strength, protection, and steadfastness, and it underlies related astronomical terms like Ursa Major. In German the prefix ur- means 'primeval,' but the personal name Urs does not come from that prefix; it is the direct Latin borrowing preserved through church and regional tradition.

Its use was reinforced by veneration of several saints named Ursus, notably patrons of Solothurn and Aosta, which anchored the name across the Alps and established local name-day observances. Variants and cognates include Latin Ursus/Ursinus, German/Swiss Urs, French Ours, and Italian Orso and Orsino; feminine counterparts are Ursa, Ursula (and Italian Orsola), Slovene Urša, and Italian Orsa. Swiss diminutives such as Ursi occur in informal speech. Today Urs remains familiar in Switzerland, carried by artists, athletes, and public figures, while it is rare in most other languages.