Louise vs Paula
Louise 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, Louise was ranked #43 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Louise was ranked #52 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #59 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #213 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Louise was ranked #296 and Paula #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #816 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Louise and Paula over time
Louise and Paula appear together in 6 published lists, across 219 years of shared records. Louise 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.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Louise in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Louise moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1978 as Paula fell out of it to #58, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1978, Louise moved ahead of Paula in New Zealand · Girls — #48 and #37 the year before became #37 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Louise and Paula changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2025, ending at #59 and #521.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Louise and Paula averaged 19.1 places apart, ending at #52 and #93.
- Mirrored each other
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Louise rose about as far as Paula fell — from #379 and #268 in 1946 to #59 and #521 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Louise and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #1584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Louise #44 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls68 shared years, 1946–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Paula in 12.
Highest recorded here: Louise #59 in 2025, Paula #247 in 1948.
The order changed in 1974: Louise moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #425 and #400; by 1974 that had become #269 and #622.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #59, Paula #521.
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Paula in 7.
Highest recorded here: Louise #5 in 1980, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 1980: Louise moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #16 and #15; by 1980 that had become #5 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #213, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Louise #44 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #816, Paula #1584.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1954–1984
Louise held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Paula in 13.
Highest recorded here: Louise #27 in 1980, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order changed in 1978: Louise moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #48 and #37; by 1978 that had become #37 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Louise #52, Paula #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976
Louise held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Louise #23 in 1967, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Louise #43, Paula #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2017
Louise held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Louise #33 in 1997, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Louise #296, Paula #432.
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 | Louise | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /lu.ˈiz/ | |
| 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 #59 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Paula does not have one recorded yet.
- Louise and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Louise; 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
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 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