Sula, of African origin, is derived from the Swahili word 'sua', meaning 'praise'. It has gained popularity as a given name in recent years due to its unique sound and strong connection to the popular novel 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison, where the protagonist's baby daughter is named Sula Peace. The name Sula signifies admiration and appreciation, making it an appealing choice for parents seeking a distinctive yet meaningful moniker.
The name Sula experienced periods of popularity and decline over time, with the most births occurring in a single year being 34 in 1921. The majority of years had fewer than 20 births annually, with some years seeing less than 10. After the 1950s, there were several decades where no births named Sula were recorded before it began to appear again sporadically since the late 1960s.