Paula
How to say it: PAW-luh · /ˈpɔlə/
Feminine form of Paul; from Latin 'paulus' meaning small or humble.
Paula was the 788th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 318 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to rise to #786 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #788 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 318 |
| Share of births | 1 in 10,425 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | +3% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #786 |
| In France, 2025 | #332 among girls’ names, 160 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Down from its peak in the 1960s, Paula remains in regular use. Far below its best, it still shows signs of rising anew.
What goes with it
Light across two parts with soft and crisp touches, Paula travels well. Polly works as a playful nickname.
Nicknames
- Pauli
- Polly
Honouring a Paula in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Paula is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #332 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Paula
- Paula Abdul (born 1962)American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality
- Paula Fernandes (born 1984)Brazilian singer-songwriter
- Paula Patton (born 1975)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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