Paula vs Teresa
Paula and Teresacompared 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 1974, Paula was ranked #88 and Teresa #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Paula was ranked #93 and Teresa #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Paula was ranked #436 and Teresa #571 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Paula was ranked #444 and Teresa #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Paula was ranked #718 and Teresa #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Paula was ranked #1584 and Teresa #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Paula and Teresa over time
Paula and Teresa appear together in 5 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Paula held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Teresa 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 3 of those lists, Teresa 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Paula and Teresa changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1584 and #1362.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Paula and Teresa averaged 28.2 places apart, ending at #93 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Paula and Teresa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1584 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Paula #549 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Paula held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Teresa in 22.
Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1979, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Paula moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #736 and #631; by 2025 that had become #718 and #885.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Paula #718, Teresa #885.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1946–2016
Paula held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Teresa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Paula #249 in 1956, Teresa #236 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Paula #436, Teresa #571.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Paula held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Teresa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Paula #549 in 1996, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Paula #1584, Teresa #1362.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1957–1984
Paula held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Teresa in 4.
Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1970, Teresa #53 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Paula #93, Teresa #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1963–1974
Paula held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Teresa in 2.
Highest recorded here: Paula #65 in 1968, Teresa #86 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Paula #88, Teresa #96.
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 | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (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 has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Teresa.
- 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 #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls