Aideen vs Paula
Aideen and Paulacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Aideen was ranked #432 and Paula #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aideen was ranked #885 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2019, Aideen was ranked #5591 and Paula #897 among girls in England and Wales.
Aideen and Paula over time
Aideen and Paula appear together in 3 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Paula held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Aideen in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Aideen in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aideen and Paula changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2017, ending at #432 and #432.
- Longest-running competitions
Aideen and Paula were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #885 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Aideen #2701 in 1998, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Aideen held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Paula in 34.
Highest recorded here: Aideen #106 in 1991, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aideen #885, Paula #718.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2017
Aideen held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Paula in 5.
Highest recorded here: Aideen #209 in 2002, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Aideen #432, Paula #432.
England and Wales · Girls10 shared years, 1996–2019
Aideen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paula in 10.
Highest recorded here: Aideen #2701 in 1998, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Aideen #5591, Paula #897.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Aideen | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Aideen and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Aideen
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #171 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Paula
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #264 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1984
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #521 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls