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Paula vs Sandra

Paula and Sandra compared 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, Paula was ranked #98 and Sandra #60 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1980, Paula was ranked #75 and Sandra #98 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Paula was ranked #521 and Sandra #257 among girls in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2017, Paula was ranked #432 and Sandra #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Paula was ranked #736 and Sandra #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Paula was ranked #1584 and Sandra #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

Paula and Sandra over time

Norway · Girls
#30#100#30019452025Paula #521Sandra #2571945: Paula #264, Sandra #3511947: Paula #340, Sandra #3601951: Paula #268, Sandra #3501952: Paula #262, Sandra #3551953: Paula #290, Sandra #3551955: Paula #318, Sandra #4431956: Paula #249, Sandra #4541958: Paula #344, Sandra #3221959: Paula #329, Sandra #2751960: Paula #271, Sandra #3311961: Paula #411, Sandra #2801962: Paula #422, Sandra #2511963: Paula #402, Sandra #3511964: Paula #347, Sandra #1681965: Paula #390, Sandra #1631966: Paula #380, Sandra #1751967: Paula #295, Sandra #1711968: Paula #565, Sandra #2101969: Paula #391, Sandra #1751970: Paula #358, Sandra #2051971: Paula #457, Sandra #1381972: Paula #403, Sandra #1481973: Paula #400, Sandra #1551974: Paula #622, Sandra #1271975: Paula #330, Sandra #1151976: Paula #438, Sandra #1271977: Paula #403, Sandra #1241978: Paula #577, Sandra #1121979: Paula #426, Sandra #1111980: Paula #589, Sandra #1051981: Paula #359, Sandra #1201982: Paula #463, Sandra #1111983: Paula #343, Sandra #1111984: Paula #619, Sandra #811986: Paula #325, Sandra #281987: Paula #289, Sandra #211988: Paula #298, Sandra #261989: Paula #341, Sandra #351990: Paula #305, Sandra #201991: Paula #345, Sandra #301992: Paula #417, Sandra #211993: Paula #359, Sandra #331994: Paula #330, Sandra #351995: Paula #295, Sandra #301996: Paula #251, Sandra #321997: Paula #401, Sandra #301998: Paula #264, Sandra #321999: Paula #284, Sandra #382000: Paula #315, Sandra #392001: Paula #384, Sandra #332002: Paula #426, Sandra #332003: Paula #285, Sandra #462004: Paula #334, Sandra #282005: Paula #334, Sandra #482006: Paula #291, Sandra #572007: Paula #619, Sandra #612008: Paula #332, Sandra #882009: Paula #340, Sandra #792010: Paula #373, Sandra #1032011: Paula #484, Sandra #1222012: Paula #449, Sandra #1342013: Paula #408, Sandra #1262014: Paula #535, Sandra #1232015: Paula #317, Sandra #1732016: Paula #436, Sandra #1772017: Paula #306, Sandra #2032018: Paula #279, Sandra #1962019: Paula #397, Sandra #2382020: Paula #387, Sandra #2282021: Paula #399, Sandra #2972022: Paula #364, Sandra #2702023: Paula #394, Sandra #3182024: Paula #507, Sandra #3272025: Paula #521, Sandra #257

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

Republic of Ireland · Girls
#30#100#30019642024Paula #736Sandra #7361964: Paula #20, Sandra #161965: Paula #38, Sandra #141966: Paula #34, Sandra #151967: Paula #25, Sandra #161968: Paula #32, Sandra #151969: Paula #32, Sandra #191970: Paula #42, Sandra #151971: Paula #51, Sandra #141972: Paula #40, Sandra #181973: Paula #54, Sandra #171974: Paula #50, Sandra #221975: Paula #54, Sandra #221976: Paula #59, Sandra #271977: Paula #55, Sandra #291978: Paula #40, Sandra #331979: Paula #15, Sandra #341980: Paula #34, Sandra #351981: Paula #47, Sandra #421982: Paula #57, Sandra #441983: Paula #67, Sandra #481984: Paula #81, Sandra #421985: Paula #75, Sandra #401986: Paula #77, Sandra #441987: Paula #75, Sandra #491988: Paula #95, Sandra #731989: Paula #92, Sandra #801990: Paula #100, Sandra #871991: Paula #108, Sandra #1081992: Paula #97, Sandra #1291993: Paula #155, Sandra #1021994: Paula #116, Sandra #1981995: Paula #141, Sandra #1541996: Paula #150, Sandra #1811997: Paula #150, Sandra #1851998: Paula #270, Sandra #2031999: Paula #233, Sandra #3222000: Paula #303, Sandra #2132001: Paula #302, Sandra #2252002: Paula #312, Sandra #2892003: Paula #247, Sandra #2002004: Paula #257, Sandra #2872005: Paula #263, Sandra #4612006: Paula #431, Sandra #2602007: Paula #549, Sandra #2962008: Paula #323, Sandra #2222009: Paula #331, Sandra #2992010: Paula #319, Sandra #2302011: Paula #550, Sandra #2582012: Paula #280, Sandra #3172013: Paula #459, Sandra #3152014: Paula #876, Sandra #2742015: Paula #660, Sandra #3452016: Paula #661, Sandra #5152017: Paula #524, Sandra #5792019: Paula #421, Sandra #4212022: Paula #747, Sandra #7472024: Paula #736, Sandra #736

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

Paula and Sandra over time

Paula and Sandra appear together in 5 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Sandra held the stronger position in more years in 5 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.

Sandra 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 1969, Paula moved ahead of Sandra in New Zealand · Girls — #24 and #17 the year before became #16 and #21.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Paula and Sandra changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1584 and #2440.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Paula and Sandra averaged 43.7 places apart, ending at #75 and #98.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Paula and Sandra were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1584 and #2440.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2025

    Paula held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sandra in 66.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #249 in 1956, Sandra #20 in 1990.

    The order changed in 1961: Sandra moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #271 and #331; by 1961 that had become #411 and #280.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Paula #521, Sandra #257.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2024

    Paula held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sandra in 41.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1979, Sandra #14 in 1965.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Paula #736, Sandra #736.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Paula held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sandra in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #549 in 1996, Sandra #534 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Paula #1584, Sandra #2440.

  • New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1954–1980

    Paula held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sandra in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1970, Sandra #3 in 1963.

    The order changed in 1969: Paula moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #24 and #17; by 1969 that had become #16 and #21.

    Most recent shared year, 1980: Paula #75, Sandra #98.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976

    Paula held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sandra in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #62 in 1971, Sandra #13 in 1964.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1976: Paula #98, Sandra #60.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Paula

Pairs where Paula shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Sandra

Pairs where Sandra shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions →

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview →

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars →

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Paula, Sandra
FieldPaulaSandra
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New ZealandNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #521 (2025)Norway · Girls #257 (2025)
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Paula and Sandra both have 2 syllables.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Paula

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1984

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Sandra

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #351 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1954–1980

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1962 (recorded 1954–1980).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls