Namewise

Paula vs Sinead

Paula and Sineadcompared 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 2017, Paula was ranked #432 and Sinead #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Paula was ranked #747 and Sinead #905 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Paula was ranked #1491 and Sinead #3695 among girls in England and Wales.

Paula and Sinead over time

Paula and Sinead appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Sinead held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Paula in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, Sinead 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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Paula and Sinead were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #747 and #905.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Paula #172 in 1997, Sinead #54 in 1998.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022

    Paula held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sinead in 48.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1979, Sinead #2 in 1975.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Paula #747, Sinead #905.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Paula held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sinead in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #549 in 1996, Sinead #154 in 2003.

    The order changed in 2024: Paula moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2504 and #1705; by 2024 that had become #1491 and #3695.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Paula #1491, Sinead #3695.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2017

    Paula held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sinead in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Paula #172 in 1997, Sinead #54 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Paula #432, Sinead #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.

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 Sinead

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

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Paula, Sinead
FieldPaulaSinead
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedIrish form of Jeannette/Janet; the underlying chain traces to the Hebrew name Yochanan, commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish, via Anglo-Norman French Jeannette
Pronunciation/ˈʃɪnʲeːdˠ/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #521 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Sinead has a recorded origin (Irish, via Anglo-Norman French Jeannette); Paula does not have one recorded yet.
  • Paula and Sinead both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Sinead; Paula doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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 #521 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Sinead

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #109 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2022

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2022).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls