Maxine vs Paula
Maxine 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 1954, Maxine was ranked #97 and Paula #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Maxine was ranked #894 and Paula #459 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maxine was ranked #1353 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Maxine and Paula over time
Maxine and Paula appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Paula held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maxine in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Maxine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Paula 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maxine and Paula changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1353 and #1491.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Maxine #462 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maxine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paula in 24.
Highest recorded here: Maxine #462 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maxine #1353, Paula #1491.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1968–2013
Maxine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paula in 18.
Highest recorded here: Maxine #343 in 1975, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Maxine #894, Paula #459.
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 | Maxine | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1353 (2024) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Maxine has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Paula.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Maxine
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1353 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