There are several theories as to the origins of her divine name, "Uzume," including that it means "strong woman" or that it refers to a woman who arranges her hair in the "uzu" style, a hairstyle where the hair is bound high in Chinese fashion by tsuta (hair-binding ornaments like pins or headbands).
神名の「ウズメ」の解釈には諸説あり、「強女」の意とする説や、中国風に髪を頭の上にあげ、蔦をかざし（髪をとめるピンやはちまき）にしてとめた「髻（ウズ）」を結った女性の意とする説などがある。