Paola
“Paola is the feminine form of Paolo, which is the Italian and Spanish equivalent of Paul” — Associated with various saints
Italy origin · Unisex name
#1074US 2023
231Births / yr
↓Falling
23.4kAll-time births
📅 Since 195000.06% of births at peak
How to pronounce Paola
PAH·OH·luh
/ˈpɑ.ˈoʊ.lə/ · stress on PAH · 3 syllables
“Paola is the feminine form of Paolo, which is the Italian and Spanish equivalent of Paul”
Associated with various saints · Italy origin
What does Paola mean and where does it come from?
Paola is the feminine form of Paolo, which is the Italian and Spanish equivalent of Paul. The name has been associated with various saints, including Saint Paul, and has a long history in both cultures. It is popular in Italy and Spanish-speaking countries, and variations like Paula are found in var
Cultural significance
Paola has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in Italy-speaking communities, where it reflects values of italian.
Peak popularity
Reached #301 in 1999 — currently #1074 in the US.
What middle names flow best with Paola?
Paola works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
Paola Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Paola Rose
Floral · soft ending
Paola Mae
Sweet · timeless
Paola Claire
French influence · crisp
Paola Jane
Literary · strong
Paola Skye
Modern · airy feel
How popular is Paola right now?
Falling — down 90 spots — currently #1074 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
The story of Paola
Paola entered American naming records in 1950 and has been in use for over 74 years. A total of 23,436 babies have received this name. The name has grown more popular over time, rising from #6061 in 1950 to #1074 in 2023. Paola is used for both genders: 99% female and 1% male.
Names that peaked alongside Paola in 1999:
Paola by decade
Paola peaked in the 1990s. See all 1990s names →
| Decade | Births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 44 | |
| 1960s | 210 | |
| 1970s | 612 | |
| 1980s | 1,690 | |
| 1990s | 6,448 | |
| 2000s ★ | 9,912 | |
| 2010s | 4,255 | |
| 2020s | 265 |
What are good nicknames for Paola?
CROATIAN
Pavica
ENGLISH
Pauletta
FRENCH
Paulette
PORTUGUESE
Paulinha
What names sound and feel like Paola?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Paola also consider these
How is Paola written in other languages?
Gender variants of Paola
Pal ALBANIANPali ALBANIANPavli ALBANIANPaulus ANCIENT ROMANBoulos ARABICBulus ARABICBoghos ARMENIANPoghos ARMENIANPaulos BIBLICAL GREEKPaulus BIBLICAL LATINPaul BIBLICALPaol BRETONPavel BULGARIANPau CATALANPol CATALANPaulu CORSICANPavao CROATIANPavle CROATIANPavo CROATIANPavel CZECHPalle DANISHPaul DANISHPoul DANISHPaul DUTCHPauwel DUTCHPaul ENGLISHPaulie ENGLISHPaĉjo ESPERANTOPaŭlo ESPERANTOPaavo ESTONIANPáll FAROESEPaavali FINNISHPaavo FINNISHPauli FINNISHPaul FRENCHPaulo GALICIANPavle GEORGIANPaul GERMANPavlos GREEKPál HUNGARIANPáll ICELANDICPól IRISHPaolo ITALIANPāvils LATVIANPaulius LITHUANIANPavel MACEDONIANPavle MACEDONIANPaora MAORIPål NORWEGIANPaul NORWEGIANPau OCCITANPavelu OLD CHURCH SLAVICPaweł POLISHPaulinho PORTUGUESEPaulo PORTUGUESEPaul ROMANIANPasha RUSSIANPavel RUSSIANPàulu SARDINIANPàl SCOTTISHPòl SCOTTISHPavle SERBIANPavol SLOVAKPavel SLOVENEPablo SPANISHPål SWEDISHPaul SWEDISHPavlo UKRAINIANPaulina ANCIENT ROMANPaulinus ANCIENT ROMANPolina BULGARIANPolya BULGARIANPavlina CZECHPauline DANISHLien DUTCHPaulien DUTCHLina ENGLISHPauleen ENGLISHPaulene ENGLISHPaulina ENGLISHPauline ENGLISHPauliina FINNISHPauline FRENCHPauline GERMANLina ITALIANPaolina ITALIANPaolino ITALIANPaulina LITHUANIANPavlina MACEDONIANPauline NORWEGIANPaulina POLISHPaulina PORTUGUESEPaulino PORTUGUESEPolina RUSSIANPaulína SLOVAKPavlina SLOVENEPaulina SPANISHPaulino SPANISHPaulina SWEDISHPauline SWEDISHPolina UKRAINIAN
Common questions about the name Paola
What does the name Paola mean?
Paola means "Italian" — a name rooted in Italy tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Paola?
Paola is currently a distinctive and less common name as a baby name in the US and is becoming rarer and more distinctive, making it a unique choice that stands out.
What is the cultural origin of Paola?
Paola originates from Italy tradition. Italy names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Paola?
Paola is a three-syllable name pronounced P AA1 OW1 L AH0. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
What sibling names go well with Paola?
Paola pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar Italy heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.
Parents who viewed Paola also looked at…
Based on what other parents saved alongside Paola