From the name of the nearby lake, possibly a participle *ullava(“flooding”), akin to dialectal ulli(“floodwater”)[1] and of Sami origin (compare Northern Samiulˈli).[2]
The internal locative cases (inessive, illative and elative) are used with this place name when referring to a location; for example, "in Ullava" is Ullavassa.
^ Sirkka Paikkala, editor (2007), Suomalainen paikannimikirja (in Finnish), Helsinki: Karttakeskus, Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus, →ISBN
^ Itkonen, Erkki, Kulonen, Ulla-Maija, editors (1992–2000), Suomen sanojen alkuperä[1] (in Finnish) (online version; note: also includes other etymological sources; this source is labeled "SSA 1992–2000"), Helsinki: Institute for the Languages of Finland/Finnish Literature Society, →ISBN