Kim vs Paula
Kim 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, Kim was ranked #18 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Kim was ranked #79 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Kim was ranked #451 and Paula #383 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Kim was ranked #589 and Paula #484 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #736 and Paula #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Kim was ranked #4192 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Kim and Paula over time
Kim and Paula appear together in 5 published lists, across 180 years of shared records. Kim held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Paula in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1953, Kim moved ahead of Paula in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #98 and #92 the year before became #57 and #100.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kim and Paula changed places 16 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2011, ending at #589 and #484.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Kim and Paula averaged 18.4 places apart, ending at #79 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Kim and Paula were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 54 years, from 1951 to 2011, ending at #589 and #484.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kim #382 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Paula in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kim #64 in 1992, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #736, Paula #736.
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1951–2011
Kim held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Paula in 23.
Highest recorded here: Kim #205 in 1967, Paula #249 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Kim #589, Paula #484.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kim held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Paula in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kim #382 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Paula moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #985 and #1043; by 2005 that had become #1295 and #931.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kim #4192, Paula #1491.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1958–1984
Kim held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Paula in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kim #5 in 1968, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Kim #79, Paula #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976
Kim held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paula in 1.
Highest recorded here: Kim #6 in 1967, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order changed in 1953: Kim moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #98 and #92; by 1953 that had become #57 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Kim #18, Paula #98.
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 | Kim | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Paula.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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