Correct pronunciation of Ursula?

[monetinjanuary]

I've done a straw poll amongst work colleagues which has proved inconclusive.

I favour the Ur soo la pronunciation, others Ur shoo la.

Does anybody know which is right?

[shoobidoo]

There is no right or wrong way imo.

In German it is pronounced Ur-su-la, with the first syllable emphasised.

[Toffeepopple]

I know two Ursulas.

One is called Ur-syu-la.

The other gets called Uschi!

[annasophia]

My German aunt is called Ursula (it is a common German name for 50+ year olds) and she is known as Ushi too!

[rosieposey]

Hmmm one of my best friends is called Ursula and she has always been called Er-shoo-la IYSWIM but we have always called her Urshi.

[sparklyrainbow]

I knew one (complete cow but I digress, sorry) who went by Sula and threw a paddy if anyone said Ur-shoo-la. Does it depend on local accent maybe?

[mumoverseas]

I hate the shoo bit in it. There is no H in ursula. I pronounce it the way Shoobidu said which in my opinion is the correct way

[Gogglecat]

We've named our 4 day old Ursula, and we'll be pronouncing it Ur-su-la. As the above poster says, there's no 'H' in the name!

[Rolf]

Eeeersherler round my way

[PuppyMonkey]

Ur syou (rhymes with you) la

[mistlethrush]

Errr.Sue.Lah. No H so why Sh?

[shoobidoo]

Thinking about it, why do some of you say

Urs-You-la

and not

Urs-oo-la ?

[mumoverseas]

Googlecat, congratulations on your new baby girl. Ursula really is the BEST girls name

[IcedBum]

I say Err-syou-lah stress on first syll.

[ShowOfHands]

sparklyrainbow, I knew a bitch of an Ursula too who insisted on Sula and was very nasty if you forgot. She lived in the Cambs area. Is it the same one?

Ur- syu- la here btw.

[dingdong3]

In ireland you tend to get Urs-la...i.e. the middle oo sound is not made at all. It's only since I moved to the UK that i hear it as Urs-you-la...not heard the use of the SH sound at all amongst friends.

[Vivia]

Here it's pronounced Ersh-uh-la. Your way is lovelier.

[Bumbleconfusus]

I'd go with the pronunciation in the little mermaid, but thats just because its the only time i've ever come across the name...