Paula
Borrowed from Latin Paula, feminine form of Paulus (“Paul”).
Every Paula since 1880 — 281,769 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Paula
Paula is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #855 in 2025 with 318 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 281,769 American babies have been named Paula. Its peak came in 1963, when 10,183 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
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 Paula stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Paula 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 | 318 | #855 | — | — |
| 2024 | 375 | #754 | — | — |
| 2023 | 402 | #707 | 6 | #11,897 |
| 2022 | 349 | #806 | 6 | #11,948 |
| 2021 | 338 | #823 | — | — |
| 2020 | 331 | #824 | 5 | #13,549 |
| 2019 | 373 | #753 | — | — |
| 2018 | 344 | #794 | — | — |
| 2017 | 319 | #858 | 5 | #13,745 |
| 2016 | 348 | #826 | — | — |
| 2015 | 310 | #891 | 9 | #8,547 |
| 2014 | 267 | #996 | — | — |
| 2013 | 307 | #848 | — | — |
| 2012 | 385 | #725 | — | — |
| 2011 | 325 | #819 | — | — |
| 2010 | 332 | #815 | — | — |
| 2009 | 362 | #782 | 6 | #12,091 |
| 2008 | 448 | #679 | 5 | #14,087 |
| 2007 | 455 | #652 | 5 | #13,882 |
| 2006 | 431 | #669 | — | — |
| 2005 | 416 | #670 | 8 | #8,898 |
| 2004 | 419 | #655 | 6 | #10,975 |
| 2003 | 356 | #720 | — | — |
| 2002 | 416 | #616 | 5 | #12,000 |
| 2001 | 420 | #600 | — | — |
| 2000 | 454 | #574 | 8 | #7,998 |
| 1995 | 553 | #458 | 8 | #6,822 |
| 1990 | 940 | #297 | 10 | #5,276 |
| 1985 | 1,015 | #250 | 10 | #4,261 |
| 1980 | 1,598 | #173 | 8 | #4,832 |
| 1975 | 2,651 | #108 | 17 | #2,512 |
| 1970 | 6,055 | #57 | 22 | #1,920 |
| 1965 | 7,915 | #49 | 19 | #1,844 |
| 1960 | 8,066 | #55 | 16 | #2,100 |
| 1955 | 9,585 | #39 | 13 | #2,285 |
| 1950 | 6,631 | #54 | 9 | #2,722 |
| 1945 | 3,798 | #67 | 11 | #2,215 |
| 1940 | 1,372 | #155 | 9 | #2,625 |
| 1935 | 774 | #222 | — | — |
| 1930 | 614 | #252 | 9 | #2,953 |
| 1925 | 464 | #308 | — | — |
| 1920 | 343 | #354 | — | — |
| 1915 | 228 | #399 | — | — |
| 1910 | 89 | #419 | — | — |
| 1905 | 68 | #411 | — | — |
| 1900 | 47 | #497 | — | — |
| 1895 | 37 | #485 | — | — |
| 1890 | 35 | #433 | — | — |
| 1885 | 16 | #554 | — | — |
| 1880 | 9 | #621 | — | — |
Famous people named Paula
- Paula Hitler Writer · 1896–1960
- Paula Modersohn-Becker Painter · 1876–1907
- Paula of Rome Religious figure · 347–406
- Paula Rego Painter · b. 1935
- Paula von Preradović Writer · 1887–1951
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paula mean?
Borrowed from Latin Paula, feminine form of Paulus (“Paul”).
How popular is the name Paula in 2025?
Paula ranked #855 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 318 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Paula?
281,769 babies have been named Paula in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Paula most popular?
Paula peaked in 1963, when 10,183 newborns received the name.
Is Paula a boy or girl name?
Paula is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Paula rising or falling?
Paula is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Paula?
Well-known people named Paula include Paula Hitler (writer), Paula Modersohn-Becker (painter), Paula of Rome (religious figure).