Namewise

Elise vs Paula

Elise 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.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Elise was ranked #63 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Elise was ranked #320 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Elise was ranked #337 and Paula #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Elise was ranked #381 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Elise and Paula over time

Elise and Paula appear together in 4 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Elise 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 Elise 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Elise and Paula changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #63 and #521.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 80 shared years in Norway · Girls, Elise rose about as far as Paula fell — from #223 and #264 in 1945 to #63 and #521 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Elise and Paula were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 80 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #63 and #521.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls80 shared years, 19452025

    Elise held the stronger position in 77 of those years, Paula in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Elise #23 in 2001, Paula #214 in 1949.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Elise #63, Paula #521.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 19832025

    Elise held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Paula in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Elise #132 in 2014, Paula #67 in 1983.

    The order changed in 2010: Elise moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #358 and #331; by 2010 that had become #236 and #319.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Elise #381, Paula #718.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Elise held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paula in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Elise #96 in 2002, Paula #549 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Elise #320, Paula #1491.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 19972024

    Elise held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Paula in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Elise #147 in 2003, Paula #172 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2024: Elise moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #350 and #298; by 2024 that had become #337 and #407.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Elise #337, 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.

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 Elise

Pairs where Elise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Paula

Pairs where Paula shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Elise, Paula
FieldElisePaula
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA short form of Elizabeth, used across Germanic and Scandinavian languages.Not yet recorded
OriginHebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/eˈliː.seh/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #63 (2025)Norway · Girls #521 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Elise has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission); Paula does not have one recorded yet.
  • Elise has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Paula.
  • A meaning is recorded for Elise; 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

Elise

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #223 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Paula

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1984

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #521 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls