Arabella vs Paula
Arabella 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Arabella was ranked #22 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Arabella was ranked #93 and Paula #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Arabella was ranked #96 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Arabella and Paula over time
Arabella and Paula appear together in 2 published lists, across 48 years of shared records. Arabella held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Paula in 0.
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.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Arabella 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Arabella and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #22 and #1584.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Arabella held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #22 in 2025, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #22, Paula #1584.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2004–2025
Arabella held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Paula in 7.
Highest recorded here: Arabella #96 in 2025, Paula #257 in 2004.
The order changed in 2014: Arabella moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #491 and #459; by 2014 that had become #304 and #876.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Arabella #96, Paula #718.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Arabella
Pairs where Arabella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ada vs Arabella
Ada and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ada · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Arabella
Amelia and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Aria vs Arabella
Aria and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Aria · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Aurora vs Arabella
Aurora and Arabella both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Aurora · Arabella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Paula
Pairs where Paula shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nora vs Paula
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #718.
Nora · Paula · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Paula vs Ellen
In 1964 they stood at #20 and #27 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #166.
Paula · Ellen · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deirdre vs Paula
In 1964 they stood at #14 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #421.
Deirdre · Paula · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Paula vs Kathleen
In 1964 they stood at #20 and #23 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #352.
Paula · Kathleen · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Arabella | 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 | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #22 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Arabella has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Paula.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Arabella
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #519 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls