Fun Facts About the Name Paula
- An established favorite: Paula held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 32 consecutive years, from 1943 through 1974.
- More than 281 thousand babies named Paula: U.S. records list 281,768 babies given the name Paula from 1880 through 2025. Even 913 boys received the name Paula - about 1 boy for every 308 girls.
What Does the Name Paula Mean?
Paula is the feminine form of Paul, which comes from the Latin name Paulus (rendered in Greek as Παῦλος). The Latin word paulus meant 'small' or 'little,' so the literal sense of the name is 'small.' It is often given as 'humble,' a customary interpretation rather than a separate etymology. In Roman naming, Paulus was a cognomen, and the feminine Paula was its female counterpart.
Paula Name History & Origins
Paula comes from the Latin feminine form of Paulus, and it was used in the Roman world as the female form of that cognomen. A well-known early bearer is Saint Paula (347 - 404), a Roman noblewoman who settled in Bethlehem with Jerome and founded monastic communities there. Jerome's letters and other early Christian writings record her life and her role in establishing those communities.
In European languages, the name has several vernacular forms: Spanish and Portuguese Paula, Italian Paola, French Paule, and German and English Paula. The masculine name Paul is associated with Saint Paul the Apostle, whose Latin name was Paulus; the Greek New Testament calls him Παῦλος. English uses Paula as the feminine counterpart of Paul. The related forms Paulina and Paulette are separate derivatives of the same root.
How Popular is the Name Paula?
Paula remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1943 to 1974. Its highest annual birth count was in 1963, and people born that year turn 63 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #855 | 318 | 0.0198% |
| 2024 | #753 | 374 | 0.0232% |
| 2023 | #707 | 401 | 0.0250% |
| 2022 | #806 | 349 | 0.0213% |
| 2021 | #822 | 338 | 0.0206% |
| 2020 | #824 | 331 | 0.0205% |
| 2019 | #753 | 373 | 0.0222% |
| 2018 | #794 | 344 | 0.0202% |
| 2017 | #858 | 319 | 0.0185% |
| 2016 | #825 | 348 | 0.0196% |
| 2015 | #891 | 310 | 0.0174% |
| 2014 | #995 | 267 | 0.0150% |
| 2013 | #848 | 307 | 0.0175% |
| 2012 | #724 | 385 | 0.0219% |
| 2011 | #819 | 325 | 0.0185% |
| 2010 | #815 | 332 | 0.0187% |
| 2009 | #782 | 362 | 0.0197% |
| 2008 | #679 | 448 | 0.0237% |
| 2007 | #652 | 455 | 0.0237% |
| 2006 | #669 | 431 | 0.0227% |
| 2005 | #670 | 416 | 0.0225% |
| 2004 | #655 | 419 | 0.0228% |
| 2003 | #720 | 356 | 0.0195% |
| 2002 | #617 | 415 | 0.0231% |
| 2001 | #600 | 420 | 0.0233% |
| 2000 | #574 | 454 | 0.0250% |
| 1999 | #564 | 446 | 0.0251% |
| 1998 | #546 | 457 | 0.0259% |
| 1997 | #490 | 504 | 0.0290% |
| 1996 | #455 | 552 | 0.0315% |
| 1995 | #458 | 553 | 0.0314% |
| 1994 | #402 | 623 | 0.0349% |
| 1993 | #400 | 630 | 0.0348% |
| 1992 | #338 | 776 | 0.0421% |
| 1991 | #320 | 849 | 0.0453% |
| 1990 | #297 | 940 | 0.0495% |
| 1989 | #321 | 794 | 0.0431% |
| 1988 | #305 | 811 | 0.0455% |
| 1987 | #272 | 903 | 0.0519% |
| 1986 | #279 | 881 | 0.0514% |
| 1985 | #250 | 1,015 | 0.0590% |
| 1984 | #230 | 1,102 | 0.0654% |
| 1983 | #220 | 1,160 | 0.0694% |
| 1982 | #205 | 1,328 | 0.0784% |
| 1981 | #186 | 1,481 | 0.0888% |
| 1980 | #173 | 1,598 | 0.0962% |
| 1979 | #165 | 1,694 | 0.1055% |
| 1978 | #150 | 1,827 | 0.1193% |
| 1977 | #144 | 2,043 | 0.1333% |
| 1976 | #121 | 2,251 | 0.1536% |
| 1975 | #108 | 2,652 | 0.1819% |
| 1974 | #96 | 3,061 | 0.2086% |
| 1973 | #87 | 3,504 | 0.2403% |
| 1972 | #72 | 4,260 | 0.2800% |
| 1971 | #63 | 5,378 | 0.3232% |
| 1970 | #57 | 6,055 | 0.3464% |
| 1969 | #50 | 6,754 | 0.4004% |
| 1968 | #45 | 7,638 | 0.4656% |
| 1967 | #46 | 7,692 | 0.4659% |
| 1966 | #50 | 7,857 | 0.4643% |
| 1965 | #49 | 7,914 | 0.4483% |
| 1964 | #45 | 9,501 | 0.5014% |
| 1963 | #42 | 10,151 | 0.5267% |
| 1962 | #60 | 7,193 | 0.3658% |
| 1961 | #60 | 7,746 | 0.3838% |
| 1960 | #55 | 8,065 | 0.3989% |
| 1959 | #51 | 8,059 | 0.3983% |
| 1958 | #53 | 8,025 | 0.3989% |
| 1957 | #49 | 8,544 | 0.4178% |
| 1956 | #47 | 8,925 | 0.4445% |
| 1955 | #39 | 9,585 | 0.4902% |
| 1954 | #38 | 9,686 | 0.4988% |
| 1953 | #40 | 9,557 | 0.5080% |
| 1952 | #47 | 8,566 | 0.4619% |
| 1951 | #51 | 7,291 | 0.4049% |
| 1950 | #54 | 6,631 | 0.3871% |
| 1949 | #55 | 6,577 | 0.3844% |
| 1948 | #52 | 6,600 | 0.3887% |
| 1947 | #54 | 6,102 | 0.3442% |
| 1946 | #69 | 4,725 | 0.3007% |
| 1945 | #67 | 3,798 | 0.2906% |
| 1944 | #82 | 3,315 | 0.2498% |
| 1943 | #93 | 3,042 | 0.2180% |
| 1942 | #136 | 1,974 | 0.1461% |
| 1941 | #151 | 1,540 | 0.1275% |
| 1940 | #155 | 1,372 | 0.1200% |
| 1939 | #159 | 1,348 | 0.1229% |
| 1938 | #163 | 1,318 | 0.1194% |
| 1937 | #165 | 1,212 | 0.1139% |
| 1936 | #185 | 982 | 0.0944% |
| 1935 | #222 | 774 | 0.0738% |
| 1934 | #228 | 759 | 0.0727% |
| 1933 | #245 | 611 | 0.0606% |
| 1932 | #239 | 658 | 0.0617% |
| 1931 | #250 | 585 | 0.0549% |
| 1930 | #252 | 614 | 0.0545% |
| 1929 | #254 | 619 | 0.0554% |
| 1928 | #276 | 558 | 0.0484% |
| 1927 | #271 | 602 | 0.0505% |
| 1926 | #286 | 541 | 0.0456% |
| 1925 | #308 | 464 | 0.0381% |
| 1924 | #329 | 418 | 0.0335% |
| 1923 | #337 | 378 | 0.0313% |
| 1922 | #374 | 305 | 0.0254% |
| 1921 | #373 | 326 | 0.0264% |
| 1920 | #354 | 343 | 0.0286% |
| 1919 | #415 | 245 | 0.0217% |
| 1918 | #401 | 265 | 0.0229% |
| 1917 | #360 | 303 | 0.0280% |
| 1916 | #361 | 289 | 0.0277% |
| 1915 | #399 | 228 | 0.0232% |
| 1914 | #390 | 184 | 0.0242% |
| 1913 | #398 | 150 | 0.0240% |
| 1912 | #358 | 164 | 0.0294% |
| 1911 | #394 | 105 | 0.0251% |
| 1910 | #419 | 89 | 0.0224% |
| 1909 | #424 | 76 | 0.0219% |
| 1908 | #403 | 83 | 0.0248% |
| 1907 | #408 | 76 | 0.0239% |
| 1906 | #355 | 89 | 0.0301% |
| 1905 | #411 | 68 | 0.0233% |
| 1904 | #371 | 79 | 0.0287% |
| 1903 | #424 | 57 | 0.0218% |
| 1902 | #499 | 41 | 0.0155% |
| 1901 | #426 | 50 | 0.0209% |
| 1900 | #497 | 47 | 0.0157% |
| 1899 | #463 | 40 | 0.0172% |
| 1898 | #418 | 55 | 0.0213% |
| 1897 | #438 | 45 | 0.0192% |
| 1896 | #421 | 47 | 0.0198% |
| 1895 | #485 | 37 | 0.0158% |
| 1894 | #491 | 34 | 0.0153% |
| 1893 | #393 | 47 | 0.0221% |
| 1892 | #425 | 40 | 0.0188% |
| 1891 | #383 | 44 | 0.0237% |
| 1890 | #433 | 35 | 0.0184% |
| 1889 | #427 | 33 | 0.0185% |
| 1888 | #483 | 27 | 0.0151% |
| 1887 | #444 | 26 | 0.0178% |
| 1886 | #489 | 21 | 0.0145% |
| 1885 | #554 | 16 | 0.0120% |
| 1884 | #634 | 12 | 0.0093% |
| 1883 | #447 | 19 | 0.0169% |
| 1882 | #880 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1881 | #616 | 9 | 0.0098% |
| 1880 | #621 | 9 | 0.0099% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #11,888 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #11,941 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #13,543 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #13,741 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #8,545 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #12,091 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #14,086 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2007 | #13,881 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #8,896 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #10,974 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #11,999 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #7,997 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #10,863 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #6,822 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #6,815 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #4,628 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #9,444 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #7,075 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #5,276 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #3,573 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #3,655 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #4,855 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #4,059 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #4,260 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #3,868 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #3,190 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #2,674 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #3,559 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #4,832 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #4,003 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #3,781 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #3,330 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #4,790 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #2,513 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1974 | #2,339 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #2,193 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #2,784 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #2,526 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #1,920 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1969 | #1,794 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1968 | #1,679 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1967 | #1,640 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #2,310 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #1,844 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #2,022 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #1,537 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1962 | #2,799 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #1,925 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #2,099 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #1,790 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1958 | #1,529 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1957 | #2,168 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #1,707 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,286 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #2,406 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #2,085 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #1,922 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #3,011 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,722 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #1,806 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1948 | #2,573 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #3,040 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #2,243 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1945 | #2,215 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #1,958 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #1,815 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1942 | #2,668 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #2,625 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1939 | #3,847 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #2,806 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #3,445 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #2,361 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #3,323 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1930 | #2,953 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #4,404 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #4,673 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #4,434 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Paula
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Paula Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Paula's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Paula's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.