Namewise

Kathleen vs Paula

Kathleen 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, Kathleen was ranked #71 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1984, Kathleen was ranked #100 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #352 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

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

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #997 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.

Kathleen and Paula over time

Kathleen and Paula appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Kathleen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Paula in 1.

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.

Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Paula 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 1965, Paula moved ahead of Kathleen in New Zealand · Girls — #56 and #61 the year before became #64 and #54.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Kathleen and Paula changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #997 and #1584.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Kathleen and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #1584.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kathleen #227 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #23 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #352 and #718.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025

    Kathleen held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Paula in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Kathleen #18 in 1965, Paula #15 in 1979.

    The order changed in 1988: Kathleen moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #78 and #75; by 1988 that had become #63 and #95.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #352, Paula #718.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Kathleen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Paula in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #997, Paula #1584.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976

    Kathleen held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Paula in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Kathleen #29 in 1952, Paula #62 in 1971.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1976: Kathleen #71, Paula #98.

  • New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1984

    Kathleen held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Paula in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Kathleen #31 in 1954, Paula #16 in 1969.

    The order changed in 1965: Paula moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #56 and #61; by 1965 that had become #64 and #54.

    Most recent shared year, 1984: Kathleen #100, Paula #93.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2024

    Kathleen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Paula in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Kathleen #112 in 1997, Paula #172 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathleen #407, 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 Kathleen

Pairs where Kathleen 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.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Kathleen, Paula
FieldKathleenPaula
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)Norway · Girls #521 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Kathleen and Paula both have 2 syllables.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Kathleen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #29 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · 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 #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls