Angela vs Paula
Angela 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, Angela was ranked #13 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Angela was ranked #26 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Angela was ranked #330 and Paula #383 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Angela was ranked #437 and Paula #364 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #608 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Angela was ranked #1198 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Paula over time
Angela and Paula appear together in 6 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Angela in 1. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1963, Angela moved ahead of Paula in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #100 and #96 the year before became #51 and #81.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Paula changed places 20 times in Norway · Girls between 1947 and 2022, ending at #437 and #364.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Angela and Paula averaged 31.4 places apart, ending at #26 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Paula were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 60 years, from 1947 to 2022, ending at #437 and #364.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Paula in 35.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2022: Angela moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #444 and #375; by 2022 that had become #389 and #747.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #608, Paula #718.
Norway · Girls60 shared years, 1947–2022
Angela held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Paula in 38.
Highest recorded here: Angela #229 in 1959, Paula #249 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Angela #437, Paula #364.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Angela held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Angela #1198, Paula #1491.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1954–1984
Angela held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Angela #26, Paula #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1955–1976
Angela held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Paula in 1.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order changed in 1963: Angela moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #100 and #96; by 1963 that had become #51 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Angela #13, Paula #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2012
Angela held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Paula in 4.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Angela moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #286 and #286; by 2004 that had become #316 and #372.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Angela #330, Paula #383.
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 | Angela | 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, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (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
- Angela has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Paula.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 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