Lisa vs Paula
Lisa 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Lisa was ranked #6 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Lisa was ranked #8 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lisa was ranked #174 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Lisa was ranked #363 and Paula #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lisa was ranked #443 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lisa was ranked #661 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Lisa and Paula over time
Lisa and Paula appear together in 6 published lists, across 216 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Paula in 0.
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.
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 1965, Lisa moved ahead of Paula in New Zealand · Girls — #66 and #61 the year before became #31 and #54.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lisa and Paula changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #174 and #521.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Lisa and Paula averaged 34.8 places apart, ending at #6 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Lisa and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #661 and #1584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lisa #105 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls79 shared years, 1945–2025
Lisa held the stronger position in 71 of those years, Paula in 8.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #37 in 1994, Paula #214 in 1949.
The order changed in 1961: Lisa moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #324 and #271; by 1961 that had become #264 and #411.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lisa #174, Paula #521.
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Lisa held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Paula in 8.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #3 in 1984, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2020: Lisa moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #551 and #421; by 2020 that had become #355 and #375.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lisa #443, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lisa held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paula in 1.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #105 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lisa #661, Paula #1584.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1963–1984
Lisa held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Paula in 2.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #1 in 1968, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order changed in 1965: Lisa moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #66 and #61; by 1965 that had become #31 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Lisa #6, Paula #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1963–1976
Lisa held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #2 in 1968, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Lisa #8, Paula #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2011
Lisa held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #63 in 1997, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Lisa #363, Paula #444.
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 | Lisa | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.sə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #174 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Lisa has a recorded origin (Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth); Paula does not have one recorded yet.
- Lisa and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lisa; 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #661 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