Where does the name Paula come from?

Paula is a girl name of Latin origin.

Is Paula a boy or a girl name?

Paula is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Paula are girls and 0% are boys.

How popular is the name Paula in 2023?

Paula ranks #707 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1963 with 10,183 babies.

How do you pronounce Paula?

Paula is pronounced PAW-la (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Paula?

Paula is also written as Pauline, Paola, Polly.

A name from Latin · Girl

Paula

Latin feminine of Paul, from Paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble'. Saint Paula of Rome was a 4th-century friend of Saint Jerome and one of the earliest Christian female monastics.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

280,163 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

408 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

PLatin feminine of Paul, from Paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble'. Saint Paula of Rome was a 4th-century friend of Saint Jerome and one of the earliest Christian female monastics.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Paula".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Pauline Most common Paola Polly

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Paula.

P
Paula Abdul (singer and choreographer)
P
Paula Deen (chef)
P
Paula Radcliffe (marathoner)

Quick answers

People often ask about Paula.

What does the name Paula mean?: Paula means latin feminine of Paul, from Paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble'. Saint Paula of Rome was a 4th-century friend of Saint Jerome and one of the earliest Christian female monastics.
Where does the name Paula come from?: Paula is a girl name of Latin origin.
Is Paula a boy or a girl name?: Paula is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Paula are girls and 0% are boys.
How popular is the name Paula in 2023?: Paula ranks #707 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1963 with 10,183 babies.
How do you pronounce Paula?: Paula is pronounced PAW-la (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Paula?: Paula is also written as Pauline, Paola, Polly.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.