Allison vs Paula
Allison 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Allison was ranked #86 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #631 and Paula #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Allison was ranked #3318 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Allison and Paula over time
Allison and Paula appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Paula held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Allison in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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
Allison and Paula changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1965 and 1976, ending at #86 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Allison and Paula were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #631 and #736.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Allison #63 in 1971, Paula #62 in 1971.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Paula in 50.
Highest recorded here: Allison #164 in 1966, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2024: Allison moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #727 and #727; by 2024 that had become #631 and #736.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #631, Paula #736.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Allison held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Paula in 26.
Highest recorded here: Allison #1317 in 1999, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allison #3318, Paula #1491.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1965–1976
Allison held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Paula in 5.
Highest recorded here: Allison #63 in 1971, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Allison #86, Paula #98.
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 | Allison | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #631 (2024) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Allison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Paula.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Allison
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1965–1980
Highest recorded position: #63 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1965–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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