Clara vs Paula
Clara 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, Clara was ranked #36 and Paula #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Clara was ranked #73 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Clara was ranked #84 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Clara was ranked #121 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
Clara and Paula over time
Clara and Paula appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Clara held the stronger position in more years in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Clara 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1995, Clara moved ahead of Paula in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #154 and #116 the year before became #119 and #141.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Clara and Paula changed places 11 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2025, ending at #121 and #521.
- Mirrored each other
Over 45 shared years in Norway · Girls, Clara rose about as far as Paula fell — from #389 and #268 in 1951 to #121 and #521 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Clara and Paula were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 45 years, from 1951 to 2025, ending at #121 and #521.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1964–2025
Clara held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Paula in 29.
Highest recorded here: Clara #59 in 2019, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 1995: Clara moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #154 and #116; by 1995 that had become #119 and #141.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Clara #73, Paula #718.
Norway · Girls45 shared years, 1951–2025
Clara held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Paula in 19.
Highest recorded here: Clara #121 in 2025, Paula #251 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Clara moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #327 and #291; by 2007 that had become #241 and #619.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Clara #121, Paula #521.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Clara held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Clara #84 in 2024, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Clara #84, Paula #1491.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Clara held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Clara #32 in 2017, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Clara #36, 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 | Clara | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #73 (2025) | 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
- Clara 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
Clara
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #389 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #32 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2017 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #121 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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