Linda vs Paula
Linda 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, Linda was ranked #40 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Linda was ranked #76 and Paula #47 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Linda was ranked #446 and Paula #298 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Linda was ranked #376 and Paula #507 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #718 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #1892 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Linda and Paula over time
Linda and Paula appear together in 5 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Linda held the stronger position in more years in 3 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.
Linda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Paula in 2. 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 1968, Paula moved ahead of Linda in New Zealand · Girls — #25 and #34 the year before became #34 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Linda and Paula changed places 10 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1892 and #1584.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Linda and Paula averaged 47.2 places apart, ending at #76 and #47.
- Longest-running competitions
Linda and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #1584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Linda #638 in 1997, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls78 shared years, 1945–2024
Linda held the stronger position in 71 of those years, Paula in 7.
Highest recorded here: Linda #1 in 1975, Paula #214 in 1949.
The order changed in 2020: Linda moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #416 and #397; by 2020 that had become #383 and #387.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Linda #376, Paula #507.
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Paula in 16.
Highest recorded here: Linda #13 in 1973, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #718, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Paula in 22.
Highest recorded here: Linda #638 in 1997, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #1892, Paula #1584.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1954–1979
Linda held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Paula in 11.
Highest recorded here: Linda #7 in 1957, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order changed in 1968: Paula moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #25 and #34; by 1968 that had become #34 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Linda #76, Paula #47.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976
Linda held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Linda #12 in 1963, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Linda #40, 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 | Linda | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #718 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Linda and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls