Given name & surname
Paula
“a petite woman”·“small”·“a small or humble man”
Paula is a feminine form of Paul. Interpretations include “small” and “a small or humble man” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions. In Spanish use, Paula is a feminine form of Pablo. In Spanish use, Pablo carries the interpretation “a small or humble man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Paula carries the interpretation “a petite woman.” Paula is a feminine form of Paul. Interpretations include “small” and “a small or humble man” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions. In Spanish use, Paula is a feminine form of Pablo. In Spanish use, Pablo carries the interpretation “a small or humble man.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
A possible origin is English, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
Paula is used as a feminine counterpart of Paul.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Paula through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 281,769
- 913 boys · 280,856 girls
- Most popular year
- 1963
- 10,183 babies
- 2025
- 318
- #855 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +4%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 318 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 855 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 3.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 10,156 in 1963. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (78). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 256,421 as a first name in 2020; 1,831 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Paula’s family of names
In English usage, Paula has a diminutive in Paulie. Paula is a feminine form of Paul. In German usage, Paula has a related form in Pauline.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Paula has relatives in 20 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 23
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Paulinavariant · Polish, Spanish
- Paolavariant · Portuguese, Italian
- Paulettevariant
- Paulinevariant · German, Swedish
- Pauliediminutive · English
- Paullavariant · Latin
- Pavlinavariant
- Paulitavariant
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- Pablavariant · Portuguese, Spanish
- Paulivariant
- Paulettavariant
- Pauletavariant
- Puölfull form · wym
- Pavlavariant · Latin, Czech
- Palangdiminutive · ceb
- Polengdiminutive · Tagalog
- Pálavariant · Icelandic
- Pavlienavariant
- Pavlynavariant
- Pavleenavariant
- Pauletevariant
- Paulinhadiminutive · Portuguese
- Poulavariant · Danish
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 13
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Paulmasculine form
- Pablomasculine form · Spanish
- Paulomasculine form
- Paulusmasculine form · Latin, English
- Paulealso known as · French, Basque
- ПавлаRussian
- PawełekPolish
- Saulaequivalent
Show 5 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Paula
- Paula AbdulAmerican singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personalityborn 1962
- Paula FernandesBrazilian singer-songwriterborn 1984
- Paula Modersohn-BeckerGerman expressionist painter (1876–1907)
- Paula PattonAmerican actress (born 1975)
- Paula-Mae WeekesPresident of Trinidad and Tobagoborn 1958
- Paula Hitleryounger sister of Adolf Hitler (1896–1960)
- Paula HawkinsBritish writerborn 1972
- Paula RadcliffeEnglish long-distance runnerborn 1973
- Paula ParetoArgentinian judoka and physicianborn 1986
Characters named Paula: Paula Brooks (DC Comics character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Paula, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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