The namePaula
Paula is the feminine of Paul, simple and classic. It was a top 40 American name in the 1950s.
- Girl's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Paula comes from the Latin paulus, "small, humble".
Origin
Latin.
History
Saint Paula was a Roman widow who followed Saint Jerome to Bethlehem. In the United States Paula reached 38th place in 1954.
Did you know?
- Paula Radcliffe ran the 2003 London Marathon in 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds, a world record that stood for sixteen years.
Famous people named Paula
- Paula Radcliffe, marathon runner
- Paula Abdul, singer
- Paula Rego, painter
Popularity of the name Paula
Paula in the United States
Paula was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 85,028 births over the decade, 30% of all recorded babies named Paula. Its rise began around 1937, and it peaked in 1963. Half of all babies named Paula in the United States were born before 1959, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 362 births a year.
Paula in the United Kingdom
Paula was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 461 births over the decade, 40% of all recorded babies named Paula. Half of all babies named Paula in the United Kingdom were born before 2010, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 22 births a year on average, against 44 in the five years before.
Paula in Ireland
Paula in France
Paula in Switzerland
Paula in Austria
Paula in Norway
Sibling names for Paula
Names from the same generation as Paula, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Paula? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Paula with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Paula side by side with the name of your choice.
Paula in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paula mean?
Paula comes from the Latin paulus, "small, humble".
What is the origin of the name Paula?
Latin.
Is Paula a girl's or a boy's name?
Paula is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Paula?
In 2024, Paula was the 751st most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 374 births.
What are good sibling names for Paula?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Celia, Celina, Silvia and Martina for a sister, Salvatore, Pablo, Julien and Quentin for a brother.
Who are famous people named Paula?
Paula Radcliffe, marathon runner; Paula Abdul, singer; Paula Rego, painter.