Tulsa is of Native American origin, specifically Choctaw, and means "gathering place". It gained prominence as the name of the city in Oklahoma, which was founded in 1894. The name Tulsa has a strong, distinct sound that can make it memorable. It starts with a vowel, which gives it a unique rhythm among names that typically begin with consonants. Additionally, the letter 's' at the end adds a playful touch to its pronunciation. As a given name, Tulsa is often associated with warmth and approachability due to its familiarity as a city name. However, it remains uncommon enough to retain an element of uniqueness when used for a person's name.
The name Tulsa has seen varied popularity over the years, with a noticeable spike in recent times. From just five births each in 1914 and 1990-1991, there was a steady increase to seven births in 2017 and sixteen in 2023. The total number of births with the name Tulsa from 1914 to 2023 is 133.