Paulette
How to say it: paw-LET · /pɔˈlɛt/
French diminutive of Latin Paul 'small' - chic mid-century name in France and US.
Paulette was the 1,228th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 138 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are up about 42% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #1,101 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 | #1,228 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 138 |
| Share of births | 1 in 24,024 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | +42% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,101 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Paulette shone brightest in the 1940s and stays in use far below that level. A modest revival looks likely ahead.
What goes with it
Gentle with crisp edges and vintage French charm. Jacqueline aligns in style, while Lettie gives a sweet short option.
Parents who love Paulette also love
Nicknames
- Pau
- Paulie
- Lettie
Honouring a Paulette in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Paulette is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Paulette
- Paulette Goddard (1910–1990)American actress
- Paulette Dubost (1910–2011)French actress
- Paulette Cooper (born 1942)American journalist and writer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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