Paula vs Stacey
Paula and Staceycompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Paula was ranked #93 and Stacey #15 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Paula was ranked #383 and Stacey #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Paula was ranked #736 and Stacey #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Paula was ranked #1491 and Stacey #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Paula and Stacey over time
Paula and Stacey appear together in 4 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Stacey held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Paula in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, and Stacey 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Stacey moved into the top 50 at #39 in 1978 as Paula fell out of it to #58, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1978, Stacey moved ahead of Paula in New Zealand · Girls — #37 and #38 the year before became #58 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Paula and Stacey changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1977 and 2024, ending at #736 and #898.
- Longest-running competitions
Paula and Stacey were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1977 to 2024, ending at #736 and #898.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Paula #549 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1977–2024
Paula held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stacey in 17.
Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1979, Stacey #39 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paula #736, Stacey #898.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paula held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Stacey in 18.
Highest recorded here: Paula #549 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Paula moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2504 and #2346; by 2024 that had become #1491 and #3015.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paula #1491, Stacey #3015.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1973–1984
Paula held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Stacey in 6.
Highest recorded here: Paula #24 in 1973, Stacey #15 in 1984.
The order changed in 1978: Stacey moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #37 and #38; by 1978 that had become #58 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Paula #93, Stacey #15.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2012
Paula held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Stacey in 7.
Highest recorded here: Paula #172 in 1997, Stacey #133 in 1997.
The order changed in 2012: Paula moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #372 and #200; by 2012 that had become #383 and #451.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Paula #383, Stacey #451.
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 | Stacey |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) |
| 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 Stacey both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Stacey
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #99 among girls in New Zealand in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1973–1996
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1973–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3015 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls