Given name & surname
Paulette
“small”·“a small or humble man”·“a petite woman”
In French use, Paulette is a feminine form of Paul. Interpretations include “small” and “a small or humble man” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions. Paulette is a variant of Paula. In English use, Paula carries the interpretation “a petite woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In French use, Paulette is a feminine form of Paul. Interpretations include “small” and “a small or humble man” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions. Paulette is a variant of Paula. In English use, Paula carries the interpretation “a petite woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In French use, Paulette is a feminine form of Paul. An origin associated with Paul is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Paulette is a feminine form of Paul.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1907. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Paulette through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 47,152
- 65 boys · 47,087 girls
- Most popular year
- 1948
- 2,586 babies
- 2025
- 138
- #1,536 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +37%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 138 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,536 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 36.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,579 in 1948. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (33). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 39,212 as a first name in 2020; 864 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.
Paulette’s family of names
In French usage, Paulette has a diminutive in PAUPAU. Paulette is a feminine form of Paul. Paulette has a related form in Paula.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Paulette has relatives in 11 languages.
12 related names in 11 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 13
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Paulmasculine form · English
- Paolaequivalent
- Paulettaequivalent
- Полеттborrowing · Russian
- פּאָלעטYiddish
- Поле́ттRussian
- PauletePortuguese
- ポーレットJapanese
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 Paulette
- Paulette GoddardAmerican actress (1910–1990)
- Emmanuelle RivaFrench actress (1927-2017)
- Paulette DubostFrench actress1910–2011
- Ntozake ShangeAfrican American writer and performance artist (1948-2018)
- Paulette CooperAmerican journalist and writerborn 1942
- Paulette SchwartzmannArgentine-French chess player1894–1953
- Paulette LibermannFrench mathematician (1919-2007)
- Paulette JordanAmerican politician from Idahoborn 1979
- Paulette Marcelline AdjoviBeninese politicianborn 1955
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Paulette, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Paulett
>99% girls
Annette
“he (God) has favoured me (i.e. with a child)” · “a woman graced with God's favor”
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Georgette
“farmer” · “one who works the earth”
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Janie
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Janette
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Charlene
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Charolette
>99% girls
Constance
“one who is steadfast; constant”
>99% girls