gender neutral
Paula
small, humble
About Paula
Strong and straightforward, Paula represents a refreshing departure from the elaborate multi-syllable names that dominate current trends. This classic choice carries an inherent confidence, suggesting a no-nonsense personality combined with genuine warmth and reliability. There's something remarkably honest about Paula—it doesn't try to be something it's not, and that authenticity is precisely what makes it powerful.
The name works effortlessly in professional settings while remaining friendly and approachable in personal contexts. Paula is the friend you can count on, the colleague who gets things done, the leader who inspires through action rather than flash.
In an era of increasingly complex and ornate names, Paula's simplicity becomes its greatest strength. It's easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and impossible to forget. The name has weathered decades without losing its appeal, proving its timeless quality. For parents who value substance over style, tradition over trends, Paula offers a solid foundation upon which their daughter can build her own unique identity.
Popularity of the Name Paula
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #621 | ||||
| 1881 | #616 | ||||
| 1882 | #880 | ||||
| 1883 | #447 | ||||
| 1884 | #634 | ||||
| 1885 | #554 | ||||
| 1886 | #489 | ||||
| 1887 | #444 | ||||
| 1888 | #483 | ||||
| 1889 | #427 | ||||
| 1890 | #433 | ||||
| 1891 | #383 | ||||
| 1892 | #425 | ||||
| 1893 | #393 | ||||
| 1894 | #491 | ||||
| 1895 | #485 | ||||
| 1896 | #421 | ||||
| 1897 | #438 | ||||
| 1898 | #418 | ||||
| 1899 | #463 | ||||
| 1900 | #497 | ||||
| 1901 | #426 | ||||
| 1902 | #499 | ||||
| 1903 | #424 | ||||
| 1904 | #371 | ||||
| 1905 | #411 | ||||
| 1906 | #355 | ||||
| 1907 | #408 | ||||
| 1908 | #403 | ||||
| 1909 | #424 | ||||
| 1910 | #419 | ||||
| 1911 | #394 | ||||
| 1912 | #358 | ||||
| 1913 | #398 | ||||
| 1914 | #390 | ||||
| 1915 | #399 | ||||
| 1916 | #361 | ||||
| 1917 | #360 | ||||
| 1918 | #401 | ||||
| 1919 | #415 | ||||
| 1920 | #354 | ||||
| 1921 | #373 | ||||
| 1922 | #374 | ||||
| 1923 | #337 | ||||
| 1924 | #329 | ||||
| 1925 | #308 | ||||
| 1926 | #286 | ||||
| 1927 | #271 | ||||
| 1928 | #276 | ||||
| 1929 | #254 | ||||
| 1930 | #252 | ||||
| 1931 | #250 | ||||
| 1932 | #239 | ||||
| 1933 | #245 | ||||
| 1934 | #228 | ||||
| 1935 | #222 | ||||
| 1936 | #185 | ||||
| 1937 | #165 | ||||
| 1938 | #163 | ||||
| 1939 | #159 | ||||
| 1940 | #155 | ||||
| 1941 | #151 | ||||
| 1942 | #136 | ||||
| 1943 | #93 | ||||
| 1944 | #82 | ||||
| 1945 | #67 | #168 | |||
| 1946 | #69 | #147 | |||
| 1947 | #54 | #145 | |||
| 1948 | #52 | #126 | |||
| 1949 | #55 | #123 | |||
| 1950 | #54 | #93 | |||
| 1951 | #51 | #107 | |||
| 1952 | #47 | #78 | |||
| 1953 | #40 | #79 | |||
| 1954 | #38 | #86 | |||
| 1955 | #39 | #83 | |||
| 1956 | #47 | #98 | |||
| 1957 | #49 | #99 | |||
| 1958 | #53 | #84 | |||
| 1959 | #51 | #91 | |||
| 1960 | #55 | #105 | |||
| 1961 | #60 | #113 | |||
| 1962 | #60 | #111 | |||
| 1963 | #42 | #69 | |||
| 1964 | #45 | #61 | #20 | ||
| 1965 | #49 | #55 | #38 | ||
| 1966 | #50 | #45 | #34 | ||
| 1967 | #46 | #35 | #25 | ||
| 1968 | #45 | #24 | #33 | ||
| 1969 | #50 | #16 | #32 | ||
| 1970 | #57 | #14 | #43 | ||
| 1971 | #63 | #27 | #51 | ||
| 1972 | #72 | #23 | #40 | ||
| 1973 | #87 | #24 | #55 | ||
| 1974 | #96 | #30 | #50 | ||
| 1975 | #108 | #26 | #54 | ||
| 1976 | #121 | #28 | #59 | ||
| 1977 | #144 | #37 | #55 | ||
| 1978 | #150 | #58 | #40 | ||
| 1979 | #165 | #47 | #15 | ||
| 1980 | #173 | #75 | #34 | ||
| 1981 | #186 | #74 | #47 | ||
| 1982 | #205 | #87 | #57 | ||
| 1983 | #220 | #105 | #68 | ||
| 1984 | #230 | #94 | #81 | ||
| 1985 | #250 | #103 | #75 | ||
| 1986 | #279 | #162 | #77 | ||
| 1987 | #272 | #125 | #75 | ||
| 1988 | #304 | #138 | #97 | ||
| 1989 | #321 | #193 | #92 | ||
| 1990 | #297 | #197 | #101 | ||
| 1991 | #320 | #188 | #108 | #246 | |
| 1992 | #338 | #189 | #97 | #300 | |
| 1993 | #400 | #203 | #157 | #378 | |
| 1994 | #402 | #313 | #118 | #393 | |
| 1995 | #458 | #328 | #143 | #373 | |
| 1996 | #455 | #218 | #152 | #445 | |
| 1997 | #490 | #484 | #387 | #151 | #397 |
| 1998 | #546 | #510 | #290 | #745 | |
| 1999 | #564 | #664 | #241 | #523 | |
| 2000 | #574 | #660 | #321 | #520 | |
| 2001 | #600 | #655 | #313 | #735 | |
| 2002 | #616 | #880 | #326 | #507 | |
| 2003 | #720 | #764 | #260 | #563 | |
| 2004 | #655 | #807 | #269 | #726 | |
| 2005 | #670 | #895 | #274 | #828 | |
| 2006 | #669 | #899 | #455 | #782 | |
| 2007 | #652 | #757 | #602 | #689 | |
| 2008 | #679 | #990 | #336 | #829 | |
| 2009 | #782 | #355 | |||
| 2010 | #815 | #330 | #923 | ||
| 2011 | #819 | #789 | #595 | ||
| 2012 | #725 | #866 | #290 | #981 | |
| 2013 | #848 | #880 | #486 | ||
| 2014 | #996 | #724 | |||
| 2015 | #891 | #868 | #719 | ||
| 2016 | #826 | #856 | #719 | ||
| 2017 | #858 | #810 | #562 | ||
| 2018 | #794 | #739 | #682 | ||
| 2019 | #753 | #856 | #443 | ||
| 2020 | #824 | #394 | |||
| 2021 | #823 | #894 | |||
| 2022 | #806 | #845 | |||
| 2023 | #707 | #793 | |||
| 2024 | #754 | #833 | |||
| 2025 | #855 | #804 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Paula
Names Similar to Paula
Nicknames for Paula
- Pauli
- Lala
- Pauly
- Polly
- Paulie
Famous People Named Paula
| Paula Radcliffe | British long-distance runner |
| Paula Abdul | American singer and dancer |
| Paula Deen | American celebrity chef |
| Paula Rego | Portuguese painter |
| Paula Patton | American actress |
| Paula Prentiss | American actress |
| Paula Creamer | American professional golfer |
| Paula Jones | American civil servant and political figure |
| Paula Hawkins | British author |
| Paula Cole | American singer-songwriter |
| Paula Modersohn-Becker | German painter |
| Paula Poundstone | American comedian |
| Paula White | American pastor and televangelist |
| Paula Broadwell | American author and former military officer |
| Paula Echevarría | Spanish actress |
| Paula Kalenberg | German actress |
| Paula Bennett | New Zealand politician |
| Paula Yates | British television presenter and writer |
| Paula Pell | American comedy writer and actress |
| Paula Meehan | Irish poet and playwright |
Characters Named Paula
| Paula Proctor | from "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" TV series |
| Paula Pokrifki | from "An Officer and a Gentleman" film |
| Paula Abdul | from "BoJack Horseman" TV series |
| Paula Tracy | from the "Nancy Drew" book series |
| Paula Cohen | from the "Scream" film series |
| Paula Brooks, aka. Huntress | from DC Comics |
| Paula Myo | from the "Commonwealth Saga" by Peter F. Hamilton |
| Paula Morgan | from "Veronica Mars" TV series |
| Paula Haggerty | from "The Sopranos" TV series |