Deborah vs Paula
Deborah 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, Deborah was ranked #56 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Deborah was ranked #97 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Deborah was ranked #451 and Paula #383 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #429 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #608 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Paula over time
Deborah and Paula appear together in 6 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Paula in 1.
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.
Deborah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Paula 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Paula changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #608 and #718.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Deborah and Paula averaged 30.3 places apart, ending at #97 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Paula were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #608 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Paula in 24.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2025: Deborah moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #736 and #736; by 2025 that had become #608 and #718.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #608, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Paula #1491.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1953–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Paula in 26.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #368 in 1957, Paula #251 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Deborah moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #440 and #387; by 2024 that had become #453 and #507.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #429, Paula #521.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1954–1984
Deborah held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Paula in 4.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Deborah #97, Paula #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976
Deborah held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #10 in 1963, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Deborah #56, Paula #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2012
Deborah held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paula in 4.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #116 in 1997, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Paula moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #227 and #286; by 2003 that had become #331 and #185.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Deborah #451, 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 | Deborah | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Paula does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Paula.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Paula doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 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