Paula vs Sandra
Paula and Sandracompared 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 2024, Paula was ranked #1491 and Sandra #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Paula and Sandra over time
Paula and Sandra appear together in 5 published lists, across 199 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 2024, ending at #1491 and #2771.
- 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 Norway · Girls for 74 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #521 and #257.
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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paula held the stronger position in 11 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, 2024: Paula #1491, Sandra #2771.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Paula | Sandra |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) | Norway · Girls #257 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Sandra
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1954–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1962 (recorded 1954–1980).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #257 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls