"old town"
Origin: Creek/Muscogee
Language: Creek
Tulsa
Pronunciation: [ t-UHLS-uh ]
Does Tulsa flow with your last name?
A bold American place name with Indigenous roots
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Meaning & Origin
"town, settlement"
Origin: Muscogee
Language: English
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The Story of Tulsa
Tulsa comes from the Creek (Muscogee) word tallasi or talisi, meaning old town or town. The Creek Nation established a settlement in present-day Oklahoma during their forced relocation on the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, naming it Tulsy Town after their ancestral home of Tallahassee in Alabama. The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma grew from this settlement and became one of the most prosperous cities in America during the early oil boom era.
Tulsa as a given name is part of a growing trend of American place names being used as baby names, alongside Savannah, Phoenix, Memphis, and Dakota. The name Tulsa King (2022), a Paramount+ drama starring Sylvester Stallone, brought fresh attention to the name. Its two-syllable simplicity and distinctive sound make it appealing to parents seeking a bold, geographically-connected name.
Tulsa, Oklahoma holds a painful but important place in American history as the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in US history, in which the prosperous Greenwood district known as Black Wall Street was destroyed. The name now carries complex historical weight alongside its Indigenous American origins.
Historical Record
Tulsa first appeared in US Social Security records in 1990.
Over 152 babies have been named Tulsa in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Tulsa is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #5,491 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Tulsa, Oklahoma was known as the Oil Capital of the World during the early 20th century oil boom
- The Greenwood district of Tulsa was once called Black Wall Street for its extraordinary prosperity before the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Tulsa in Other Languages
French
Tulsa
German
Tulsa
Spanish
Tulsa
Creek/Muscogee
Tallasi
Popularity Over Time
#5,491
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Tulsa
T
Tulsa Ren
Other
City namesake connected to Creek Nation heritage and the broader Oklahoma Territory settlement history
T
Tulsa King (character) Fictional
Other
Fictional New York mob boss played by Sylvester Stallone in the 2022 Paramount+ series Tulsa King
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #5,491
- Total SSA Count
- 23
- Cultural Origins
- American Indigenous American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Tul
Sal
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Tulsa
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tulsa
What does the name Tulsa mean?
"old town" (from Creek/Muscogee). "town, settlement" (from Muscogee). Tulsa comes from the Creek (Muscogee) word tallasi or talisi, meaning old town or town. The Creek Nation established a settlement in present-day Oklahoma during their forced relocation on the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, naming it Tulsy Town after their ancestral home of Tallahassee in Alabama. The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma grew from this settlement and became one of the most prosperous cities in America during the early oil boom era.
What is the origin of the name Tulsa?
Tulsa has Creek/Muscogee, Muscogee, American, and Indigenous American origins. In Creek/Muscogee, it means "old town". In Muscogee, it means "town, settlement".
Is Tulsa a boy or girl name?
Tulsa is primarily used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Tulsa?
Tulsa is pronounced t-UHLS-uh.
How popular is the name Tulsa?
Tulsa is currently ranked #5491 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Tulsa?
Common nicknames for Tulsa include Tul and Sal.
What are good middle names for Tulsa?
Popular middle name pairings include Tulsa Rose, Tulsa Mae, Tulsa Grace, Tulsa Jane, Tulsa Skye, Tulsa Dawn, and Tulsa Blue.
What are good sibling names for Tulsa?
Names that pair well with Tulsa as siblings include Dakota, Cheyenne, Sedona, Memphis, Savannah, Phoenix, and Wichita.
How many syllables does Tulsa have?
Tulsa has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Tulsa a common or rare name?
Tulsa is an uncommon name, ranked #5491 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Tulsa?
Are there other spellings for Tulsa?
Related spellings include Tulsi.
About the Name Tulsa
Tulsa is a girl name with American and Indigenous American origins . The name means "old town" in Creek/Muscogee .
Tulsa is currently ranked #5,491 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Tulsa has 2 syllables and is pronounced t-UHLS-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Tulsa include Tul and Sal. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Tulsa include Tulsi . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis