Fiadh vs Paula
Fiadh 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, Fiadh was ranked #3 and Paula #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiadh was ranked #3 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiadh was ranked #374 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiadh and Paula over time
Fiadh and Paula appear together in 3 published lists, across 42 years of shared records. Fiadh held the stronger position in more years in 2 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.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Fiadh 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 2011, Fiadh moved ahead of Paula in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #319 and #319 the year before became #189 and #550.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Fiadh rose about as far as Paula fell — from #620 and #312 in 2002 to #3 and #718 in 2025.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2002–2025
Fiadh held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Paula in 5.
Highest recorded here: Fiadh #2 in 2020, Paula #247 in 2003.
The order changed in 2011: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #319 and #319; by 2011 that had become #189 and #550.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiadh #3, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2013–2024
Fiadh held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Paula in 7.
Highest recorded here: Fiadh #355 in 2021, Paula #761 in 2018.
The order changed in 2020: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1063 and #897; by 2020 that had become #460 and #1200.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiadh #374, Paula #1491.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2008–2024
Fiadh held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Paula in 1.
Highest recorded here: Fiadh #3 in 2021, Paula #298 in 2021.
The order changed in 2011: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #430 and #430; by 2011 that had become #311 and #444.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiadh #3, 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 | Fiadh | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Carries dual meanings in Modern Irish: 'wild, wild animal, deer' (from Irish 'fia'), or alternatively 'respect'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish (modern) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfʲiə/ | |
| 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 #3 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Fiadh has a recorded origin (Irish (modern)); Paula does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiadh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Paula.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiadh; Paula doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Fiadh
Popularity journey
First recorded2002
First recorded at #620 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 2002 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 2002–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 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