Paula

Q: What is the origin of Paula?

Paula is of Latin origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Paula?

According to the latest SSA data, Paula is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Paula a boy name?

Paula is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Small; Humble"

Paula is the Latin feminine of Paul, traditionally interpreted as small or humble and used widely in Christian contexts.

Themes:latinfemininehumilityclassic

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Paula

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Paula did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

Out

not ranked after 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Paula Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Paula.

8 ideas

paul

Nickname

pauy

Nickname

paulay

Nickname

aula

Nickname

ulay

Nickname

paulaie

Nickname

pie

Nickname

Similar Names to Paula

male

Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

#44

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Arthur

AR-ther

“Bear Man”

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Austin

AW-stun

“Great, Venerable”

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Adrian

AY-dree-un

“From Hadria”

#72

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Angel

“Messenger”

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Antonio

“Priceless Inestimable”

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Arnold

“Eagle Power”

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August

“Great and Venerable”

#88

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Alton

“Old Town”

#1566

|English

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Aubrey

AW-bree

“Elf Ruler”

#1744

|Germanic

Baby Name Lists That Include Paula

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Paula, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

16 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Paula mean?

Paula means "Small; Humble". Paula is the Latin feminine of Paul, traditionally interpreted as small or humble and used widely in Christian contexts.

What is the origin of Paula?

Paula is of Latin origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Paula?

According to the latest SSA data, Paula is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Paula a boy name?

Paula is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Paula?

Popular nicknames for Paula include paul, pauy, pa, paulay, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Paula?

There are many names similar to Paula in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginLatin

Syllables2

Length5 letters

Trend↓ Falling

Starts withP

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Anton Antony Austen Antone Artis

Sisters

Antonia Alta Avis Augusta Adrian

Explore More Boy Names Like Paula

Paula has Latin roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Latin baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Paula appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Latin Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls and Names That Mean Child Of God for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Paula pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Paula beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.