Cindy vs Paula
Cindy 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1974, Cindy was ranked #92 and Paula #30 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Cindy was ranked #91 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Cindy was ranked #372 and Paula #372 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Cindy was ranked #495 and Paula #375 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2012, Cindy was ranked #437 and Paula #449 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Cindy was ranked #1449 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Cindy and Paula over time
Cindy and Paula appear together in 4 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Paula held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cindy in 0.
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 2 of those lists, Cindy 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 1976, Cindy moved ahead of Paula in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #81 and #69 the year before became #91 and #98.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cindy and Paula changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1449 and #1491.
- Longest-running competitions
Cindy and Paula were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 30 years, from 1973 to 2012, ending at #437 and #449.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Cindy #974 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1973–2012
Cindy held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Paula in 24.
Highest recorded here: Cindy #339 in 1984, Paula #251 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Cindy moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #571 and #484; by 2012 that had become #437 and #449.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Cindy #437, Paula #449.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cindy held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paula in 25.
Highest recorded here: Cindy #974 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Cindy moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #2488 and #1685; by 2023 that had become #2063 and #2504.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cindy #1449, Paula #1491.
Republic of Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1972–2020
Cindy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paula in 20.
Highest recorded here: Cindy #386 in 1985, Paula #34 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Cindy #495, Paula #375.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1964–1976
Cindy held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Paula in 5.
Highest recorded here: Cindy #69 in 1973, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order changed in 1976: Cindy moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #81 and #69; by 1976 that had become #91 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Cindy #91, 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 | Cindy | 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 | 2 | 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 | England and Wales · Girls #1449 (2024) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cindy and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Cindy
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–1976
Highest recorded position: #69 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1973 (recorded 1964–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 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