Uggla was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Elizabeth Armstead (née Cooley) and John Carl Uggla. His last name means "Wise" in Swedish, and he descends from the untitled branch of an old Swedish noble family. After graduating from Columbia Central High School in Columbia, TN, in 1998, Uggla attended the University of Memphis where after his junior season he was named an All-American by Baseball America, Baseball Weekly, and Collegiate Baseball.