Paula
What does Paula mean and where does it come from?
Paula is derived from the Latin name 'Paulus', which means 'small' or 'humble'. The name has been widely used in various forms across many cultures. It first appeared in historical texts around the 4th century. In Spain and Latin America, Paula has been quite popular and is often associated with not
How else can you spell Paula?
Same sound, different look — useful if you want something slightly more distinctive
What middle names flow best with Paula?
Paula works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
How popular is Paula right now?
Falling — down 101 spots — currently #855 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
The story of Paula
Paula has been a beloved American name for over 144 years, first appearing in Social Security records in 1880. Its peak popularity was #38 in 1954. More than 279,953 babies have been named Paula since 1880. Paula is used for both genders: 100% female and 0% male.
Names that peaked alongside Paula in 1954:
Paula by decade
Paula peaked in the 1950s. See all 1950s names →
| Decade | Births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 178 | |
| 1890s | 424 | |
| 1900s | 666 | |
| 1910s | 2,027 | |
| 1920s | 4,564 | |
| 1930s | 8,908 | |
| 1940s | 39,148 | |
| 1950s ★ | 85,026 | |
| 1960s | 80,697 | |
| 1970s | 32,869 | |
| 1980s | 11,191 | |
| 1990s | 6,384 | |
| 2000s | 4,216 | |
| 2010s | 3,321 | |
| 2020s | 1,027 |
What are good nicknames for Paula?
Famous people named Paula
What names sound and feel like Paula?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Paula also consider these