Paola
A female given name from Italian.
Every Paola since 1950 — 24,644 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Paola
Paola is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,260 in 2025 with 178 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1950, 24,644 American babies have been named Paola. Its peak came in 2006, when 1,089 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Paola stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Paola year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 178 | #1,260 | — | — |
| 2024 | 230 | #1,081 | — | — |
| 2023 | 231 | #1,074 | — | — |
| 2022 | 269 | #985 | — | — |
| 2021 | 270 | #964 | — | — |
| 2020 | 268 | #956 | — | — |
| 2019 | 283 | #935 | — | — |
| 2018 | 275 | #963 | — | — |
| 2017 | 331 | #824 | — | — |
| 2016 | 338 | #843 | — | — |
| 2015 | 383 | #738 | — | — |
| 2014 | 418 | #680 | — | — |
| 2013 | 424 | #672 | — | — |
| 2012 | 507 | #580 | — | — |
| 2011 | 620 | #481 | — | — |
| 2010 | 680 | #454 | — | — |
| 2009 | 853 | #382 | — | — |
| 2008 | 954 | #350 | — | — |
| 2007 | 1,021 | #328 | 7 | #10,602 |
| 2006 | 1,089 | #302 | — | — |
| 2005 | 1,041 | #309 | — | — |
| 2004 | 936 | #342 | — | — |
| 2003 | 952 | #329 | 7 | #9,357 |
| 2002 | 1,000 | #310 | 10 | #6,917 |
| 2001 | 1,040 | #307 | 8 | #8,112 |
| 2000 | 991 | #320 | 7 | #8,881 |
| 1995 | 921 | #302 | 13 | #4,718 |
| 1990 | 326 | #665 | 10 | #5,275 |
| 1985 | 180 | #891 | 5 | #7,308 |
| 1980 | 83 | #1,469 | — | — |
| 1975 | 63 | #1,583 | — | — |
| 1970 | 36 | #2,227 | — | — |
| 1965 | 26 | #2,391 | — | — |
| 1960 | 12 | #3,862 | — | — |
| 1955 | 5 | #6,482 | — | — |
| 1950 | 5 | #5,900 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Paola
- Paola Núñez Actor · b. 1978
- Paola Suárez Tennis player · b. 1976
- Paola Rey Actor · b. 1979
- Paola Pezzo Cyclist · b. 1969
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paola mean?
A female given name from Italian.
How popular is the name Paola in 2025?
Paola ranked #1,260 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 178 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Paola?
24,644 babies have been named Paola in the United States since 1950, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Paola most popular?
Paola peaked in 2006, when 1,089 newborns received the name.
Is Paola a boy or girl name?
Paola is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Paola rising or falling?
Paola is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Paola?
Well-known people named Paola include Paola Núñez (actor), Paola Suárez (tennis player), Paola Rey (actor).