Lydia vs Paula
Lydia 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lydia was ranked #87 and Paula #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lydia was ranked #142 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lydia was ranked #158 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lydia was ranked #608 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Lydia and Paula over time
Lydia and Paula appear together in 4 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Lydia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Paula in 0.
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.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Lydia 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 1995, Lydia moved ahead of Paula in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #227 and #116 the year before became #133 and #141.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lydia and Paula changed places 13 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2025, ending at #142 and #521.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Norway · Girls, Lydia rose about as far as Paula fell — from #380 and #268 in 1946 to #142 and #521 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Lydia and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #158 and #1584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lydia #50 in 1998, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1946–2025
Lydia held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Paula in 26.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #138 in 2017, Paula #247 in 1948.
The order changed in 2007: Lydia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #304 and #291; by 2007 that had become #254 and #619.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lydia #142, Paula #521.
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1971–2025
Lydia held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paula in 24.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #121 in 1999, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 1995: Lydia moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #227 and #116; by 1995 that had become #133 and #141.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lydia #608, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lydia held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #50 in 1998, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lydia #158, Paula #1584.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Lydia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #73 in 2008, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lydia #87, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Lydia | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #142 (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
- Lydia and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Lydia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #380 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #50 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #158 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