Paula
femaleStatistical recordWhat official birth registration shows about Paula: which national registrars published it, in which years, and how its recorded position changed.
No researched meaning or origin yet — what that means.
Pronunciation
Community-contributed pronunciation recording
Recording by Katharina Liebert. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source
VerifiedSource: Wikidata.Confidence: medium.
Falling
among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025
View as table
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1996 | #549 |
| 1997 | #658 |
| 1998 | #672 |
| 1999 | #900 |
| 2000 | #1095 |
| 2001 | #765 |
| 2002 | #1066 |
| 2003 | #965 |
| 2004 | #1043 |
| 2005 | #931 |
| 2006 | #976 |
| 2007 | #755 |
| 2008 | #1034 |
| 2009 | #982 |
| 2010 | #1294 |
| 2011 | #858 |
| 2012 | #916 |
| 2013 | #944 |
| 2014 | #779 |
| 2015 | #923 |
| 2016 | #881 |
| 2017 | #836 |
| 2018 | #761 |
| 2019 | #897 |
| 2020 | #1200 |
| 2021 | #957 |
| 2022 | #1685 |
| 2023 | #2504 |
| 2024 | #1491 |
| 2025 | #1584 |
VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.
See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales
What the data shows
FallingEngland and Wales · Girls
Recorded in official data among girls in Norway in 80 of the 81 years from 1945 to 2025.
In 2025: #521 among girls in Norway, #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Official data from 6 national registrars across 6 regions, 1945–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources
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
Popularity data
Official popularity data is available for 6 regions, from 1945 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #15 in Republic of Ireland in 1979.
| Year | Region | Category | Rank | Births registered | Confidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | England and Wales | female | #1584 | 19 | High | Verified |
| 2024 | England and Wales | female | #1491 | 21 | High | Verified |
| 2023 | England and Wales | female | #2504 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 2022 | England and Wales | female | #1685 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 2021 | England and Wales | female | #957 | 36 | High | Verified |
| 2020 | England and Wales | female | #1200 | 27 | High | Verified |
| 2019 | England and Wales | female | #897 | 40 | High | Verified |
| 2018 | England and Wales | female | #761 | 51 | High | Verified |
| 2017 | England and Wales | female | #836 | 46 | High | Verified |
| 2016 | England and Wales | female | #881 | 42 | High | Verified |
| 2015 | England and Wales | female | #923 | 39 | High | Verified |
| 2014 | England and Wales | female | #779 | 50 | High | Verified |
| 2013 | England and Wales | female | #944 | 39 | High | Verified |
| 2012 | England and Wales | female | #916 | 40 | High | Verified |
| 2011 | England and Wales | female | #858 | 42 | High | Verified |
| 2010 | England and Wales | female | #1294 | 24 | High | Verified |
| 2009 | England and Wales | female | #982 | 33 | High | Verified |
| 2008 | England and Wales | female | #1034 | 29 | High | Verified |
| 2007 | England and Wales | female | #755 | 44 | High | Verified |
| 2006 | England and Wales | female | #976 | 29 | High | Verified |
| 2005 | England and Wales | female | #931 | 29 | High | Verified |
| 2004 | England and Wales | female | #1043 | 23 | High | Verified |
| 2003 | England and Wales | female | #965 | 25 | High | Verified |
| 2002 | England and Wales | female | #1066 | 20 | High | Verified |
| 2001 | England and Wales | female | #765 | 32 | High | Verified |
| 2000 | England and Wales | female | #1095 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 1999 | England and Wales | female | #900 | 24 | High | Verified |
| 1998 | England and Wales | female | #672 | 36 | High | Verified |
| 1997 | England and Wales | female | #658 | 37 | High | Verified |
| 1996 | England and Wales | female | #549 | 45 | High | Verified |
| 1976 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #98 | 78 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1975 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #69 | 105 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1974 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #88 | 91 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1973 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #73 | 110 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1972 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #72 | 129 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1971 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #62 | 159 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1970 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #83 | 106 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1969 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #81 | 111 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1968 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #65 | 134 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1967 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #93 | 85 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1966 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #84 | 93 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1965 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #99 | 75 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1964 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #85 | 95 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1963 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #81 | 97 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1955 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #96 | 72 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1954 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #100 | 70 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1953 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #100 | 67 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1952 | New South Wales, Australia | female | #92 | 76 | Insufficient | Not yet available |
| 1984 | New Zealand | female | #93 | 55 | High | Verified |
| 1982 | New Zealand | female | #85 | 56 | High | Verified |
| 1981 | New Zealand | female | #74 | 67 | High | Verified |
| 1980 | New Zealand | female | #75 | 68 | High | Verified |
| 1979 | New Zealand | female | #47 | 101 | High | Verified |
| 1978 | New Zealand | female | #58 | 89 | High | Verified |
| 1977 | New Zealand | female | #37 | 121 | High | Verified |
| 1976 | New Zealand | female | #27 | 161 | High | Verified |
| 1975 | New Zealand | female | #26 | 184 | High | Verified |
| 1974 | New Zealand | female | #30 | 186 | High | Verified |
| 1973 | New Zealand | female | #24 | 219 | High | Verified |
| 1972 | New Zealand | female | #23 | 220 | High | Verified |
| 1971 | New Zealand | female | #27 | 218 | High | Verified |
| 1970 | New Zealand | female | #15 | 289 | High | Verified |
| 1969 | New Zealand | female | #16 | 287 | High | Verified |
| 1968 | New Zealand | female | #24 | 236 | High | Verified |
| 1967 | New Zealand | female | #34 | 169 | High | Verified |
| 1966 | New Zealand | female | #45 | 151 | High | Verified |
| 1965 | New Zealand | female | #54 | 124 | High | Verified |
| 1964 | New Zealand | female | #61 | 122 | High | Verified |
| 1963 | New Zealand | female | #68 | 116 | High | Verified |
| 1959 | New Zealand | female | #92 | 73 | High | Verified |
| 1958 | New Zealand | female | #82 | 82 | High | Verified |
| 1957 | New Zealand | female | #98 | 69 | High | Verified |
| 1956 | New Zealand | female | #98 | 61 | High | Verified |
| 1955 | New Zealand | female | #84 | 73 | High | Verified |
| 1954 | New Zealand | female | #86 | 70 | High | Verified |
| 2024 | Northern Ireland | female | #407 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2021 | Northern Ireland | female | #298 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2017 | Northern Ireland | female | #432 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2016 | Northern Ireland | female | #440 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2014 | Northern Ireland | female | #439 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2012 | Northern Ireland | female | #383 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2011 | Northern Ireland | female | #444 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2010 | Northern Ireland | female | #430 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2008 | Northern Ireland | female | #370 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2004 | Northern Ireland | female | #372 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2003 | Northern Ireland | female | #185 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2002 | Northern Ireland | female | #286 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2001 | Northern Ireland | female | #267 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2000 | Northern Ireland | female | #220 | 6 | High | Verified |
| 1999 | Northern Ireland | female | #181 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1998 | Northern Ireland | female | #213 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1997 | Northern Ireland | female | #172 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 2025 | Norway | female | #521 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2024 | Norway | female | #507 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2023 | Norway | female | #394 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2022 | Norway | female | #364 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 2021 | Norway | female | #399 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 2020 | Norway | female | #387 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2019 | Norway | female | #397 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2018 | Norway | female | #279 | 16 | High | Verified |
| 2017 | Norway | female | #306 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 2016 | Norway | female | #436 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2015 | Norway | female | #317 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 2014 | Norway | female | #535 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2013 | Norway | female | #408 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 2012 | Norway | female | #449 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2011 | Norway | female | #484 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 2010 | Norway | female | #373 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 2009 | Norway | female | #340 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2008 | Norway | female | #332 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2007 | Norway | female | #619 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2006 | Norway | female | #291 | 16 | High | Verified |
| 2005 | Norway | female | #334 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 2004 | Norway | female | #334 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 2003 | Norway | female | #285 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 2002 | Norway | female | #426 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2001 | Norway | female | #384 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 2000 | Norway | female | #315 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1999 | Norway | female | #284 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 1998 | Norway | female | #264 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1997 | Norway | female | #401 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1996 | Norway | female | #251 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 1995 | Norway | female | #295 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 1994 | Norway | female | #330 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1993 | Norway | female | #359 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1992 | Norway | female | #417 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 1991 | Norway | female | #345 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1990 | Norway | female | #305 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1989 | Norway | female | #341 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 1988 | Norway | female | #298 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1987 | Norway | female | #289 | 17 | High | Verified |
| 1986 | Norway | female | #325 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 1984 | Norway | female | #619 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 1983 | Norway | female | #343 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1982 | Norway | female | #463 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 1981 | Norway | female | #359 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 1980 | Norway | female | #589 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 1979 | Norway | female | #426 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1978 | Norway | female | #577 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 1977 | Norway | female | #403 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1976 | Norway | female | #438 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 1975 | Norway | female | #330 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1974 | Norway | female | #622 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 1973 | Norway | female | #400 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1972 | Norway | female | #403 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1971 | Norway | female | #457 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1970 | Norway | female | #358 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 1969 | Norway | female | #391 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 1968 | Norway | female | #565 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 1967 | Norway | female | #295 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1966 | Norway | female | #380 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 1965 | Norway | female | #390 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 1964 | Norway | female | #347 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1963 | Norway | female | #402 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1962 | Norway | female | #422 | 6 | High | Verified |
| 1961 | Norway | female | #411 | 6 | High | Verified |
| 1960 | Norway | female | #271 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1959 | Norway | female | #329 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1958 | Norway | female | #344 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 1957 | Norway | female | #354 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1956 | Norway | female | #249 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1955 | Norway | female | #318 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1954 | Norway | female | #406 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 1953 | Norway | female | #290 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 1952 | Norway | female | #262 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1951 | Norway | female | #268 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 1950 | Norway | female | #348 | 6 | High | Verified |
| 1949 | Norway | female | #214 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 1948 | Norway | female | #247 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1947 | Norway | female | #340 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 1946 | Norway | female | #268 | 12 | High | Verified |
| 1945 | Norway | female | #264 | 11 | High | Verified |
| 2025 | Republic of Ireland | female | #718 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2024 | Republic of Ireland | female | #736 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2023 | Republic of Ireland | female | #727 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2022 | Republic of Ireland | female | #747 | 4 | High | Verified |
| 2020 | Republic of Ireland | female | #375 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 2019 | Republic of Ireland | female | #421 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 2018 | Republic of Ireland | female | #629 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2017 | Republic of Ireland | female | #524 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 2016 | Republic of Ireland | female | #661 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2015 | Republic of Ireland | female | #660 | 5 | High | Verified |
| 2014 | Republic of Ireland | female | #876 | 3 | High | Verified |
| 2013 | Republic of Ireland | female | #459 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 2012 | Republic of Ireland | female | #280 | 18 | High | Verified |
| 2011 | Republic of Ireland | female | #550 | 7 | High | Verified |
| 2010 | Republic of Ireland | female | #319 | 16 | High | Verified |
| 2009 | Republic of Ireland | female | #331 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2008 | Republic of Ireland | female | #323 | 15 | High | Verified |
| 2007 | Republic of Ireland | female | #549 | 6 | High | Verified |
| 2006 | Republic of Ireland | female | #431 | 8 | High | Verified |
| 2005 | Republic of Ireland | female | #263 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2004 | Republic of Ireland | female | #257 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2003 | Republic of Ireland | female | #247 | 14 | High | Verified |
| 2002 | Republic of Ireland | female | #312 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 2001 | Republic of Ireland | female | #302 | 10 | High | Verified |
| 2000 | Republic of Ireland | female | #303 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1999 | Republic of Ireland | female | #233 | 13 | High | Verified |
| 1998 | Republic of Ireland | female | #270 | 9 | High | Verified |
| 1997 | Republic of Ireland | female | #150 | 33 | High | Verified |
| 1996 | Republic of Ireland | female | #150 | 33 | High | Verified |
| 1995 | Republic of Ireland | female | #141 | 34 | High | Verified |
| 1994 | Republic of Ireland | female | #116 | 45 | High | Verified |
| 1993 | Republic of Ireland | female | #155 | 30 | High | Verified |
| 1992 | Republic of Ireland | female | #97 | 61 | High | Verified |
| 1991 | Republic of Ireland | female | #108 | 58 | High | Verified |
| 1990 | Republic of Ireland | female | #100 | 65 | High | Verified |
| 1989 | Republic of Ireland | female | #92 | 75 | High | Verified |
| 1988 | Republic of Ireland | female | #95 | 72 | High | Verified |
| 1987 | Republic of Ireland | female | #75 | 101 | High | Verified |
| 1986 | Republic of Ireland | female | #77 | 100 | High | Verified |
| 1985 | Republic of Ireland | female | #75 | 104 | High | Verified |
| 1984 | Republic of Ireland | female | #81 | 99 | High | Verified |
| 1983 | Republic of Ireland | female | #67 | 125 | High | Verified |
| 1982 | Republic of Ireland | female | #57 | 161 | High | Verified |
| 1981 | Republic of Ireland | female | #47 | 199 | High | Verified |
| 1980 | Republic of Ireland | female | #34 | 300 | High | Verified |
| 1979 | Republic of Ireland | female | #15 | 453 | High | Verified |
| 1978 | Republic of Ireland | female | #40 | 240 | High | Verified |
| 1977 | Republic of Ireland | female | #55 | 164 | High | Verified |
| 1976 | Republic of Ireland | female | #59 | 147 | High | Verified |
| 1975 | Republic of Ireland | female | #54 | 168 | High | Verified |
| 1974 | Republic of Ireland | female | #50 | 176 | High | Verified |
| 1973 | Republic of Ireland | female | #54 | 166 | High | Verified |
| 1972 | Republic of Ireland | female | #40 | 215 | High | Verified |
| 1971 | Republic of Ireland | female | #51 | 169 | High | Verified |
| 1970 | Republic of Ireland | female | #42 | 188 | High | Verified |
| 1969 | Republic of Ireland | female | #32 | 216 | High | Verified |
| 1968 | Republic of Ireland | female | #32 | 206 | High | Verified |
| 1967 | Republic of Ireland | female | #25 | 269 | High | Verified |
| 1966 | Republic of Ireland | female | #34 | 218 | High | Verified |
| 1965 | Republic of Ireland | female | #38 | 215 | High | Verified |
| 1964 | Republic of Ireland | female | #20 | 311 | High | Verified |
- England and Wales hub — collected by Office for National Statistics
- New South Wales, Australia hub — collected by NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
- New Zealand hub — collected by NZ Department of Internal Affairs
- Northern Ireland hub — collected by NISRA
- Norway hub — collected by Statistics Norway (SSB)
- Republic of Ireland hub — collected by CSO Ireland
See methodology and data sources for how popularity data is collected and what "confidence" means.
Where Paula is officially recorded
6 official registrars have recorded Paula, between 1945 and 2025. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.
| Registrar | Recorded | Years | Its own highest position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 1945–2025 | 80 | #214 in 1949 |
| New South Wales, Australia | 1952–1976 | 18 | #62 in 1971 |
| New Zealand | 1954–1984 | 27 | #15 in 1970 |
| Republic of Ireland | 1964–2025 | 61 | #15 in 1979 |
| England and Wales | 1996–2025 | 30 | #549 in 1996 |
| Northern Ireland | 1997–2024 | 17 | #172 in 1997 |
Its high point came 48 years earlier in Norway (1949) than in Northern Ireland (1997).
What's not yet available
- Meaning
- Origin
- Nicknames and spelling variants
Absence from this list does not mean the name isn't genuinely meaningful or widely used — only that Namewise hasn't sourced and reviewed that content yet. Absence from a specific year or geography above does not prove zero use there either; official statistics only publish names above a minimum threshold.
Official popularity data is available for 6 regions, from 1945 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #15 in Republic of Ireland in 1979. Source data last verified 2026-07-21.