Beth vs Paula
Beth 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 2024, Beth was ranked #161 and Paula #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Beth was ranked #266 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Beth was ranked #2253 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Beth and Paula over time
Beth and Paula appear together in 3 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Beth held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Paula in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Beth 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
Beth and Paula were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #266 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Beth #83 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1987–2025
Beth held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Paula in 6.
Highest recorded here: Beth #124 in 2011, Paula #75 in 1987.
The order changed in 1998: Beth moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #363 and #150; by 1998 that had become #252 and #270.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Beth #266, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Beth held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Paula in 5.
Highest recorded here: Beth #83 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Paula moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1863 and #2504; by 2024 that had become #2253 and #1491.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beth #2253, Paula #1491.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Beth held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Beth #40 in 2000, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beth #161, Paula #407.
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 | Beth | 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 | ||
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Beth has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Paula.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Beth
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #40 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #266 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