Its name is derived from the Sanskrit upala (उपल), which means 'jewel'.

[3] The name has recently increased in usage, a trend that has been attributed to a renewed interest in “cottagecore names” with a vintage sensibility that are rooted in the natural world.

[4] Author Laura Wattenberg calls the sound of the name unique.

It was the 344th most common name for females in the United States in the 1990 census.

It has ranked among the 1,000 most popular names for girls in England and Wales since 2022.