Paula Name Meaning, Popularity and Origins
Origin:
Latin
Gender Distribution:
0% Masculine / 100% Feminine
Meaning:
Paula means 'small' or 'humble' and is associated with qualities of modesty and strength.
Meaning of the Name Paula
Paula is the feminine form of Paul, which is derived from the Latin name Paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble'. It originated from the Roman family name Paulus and became popular among early Christians due to Saint Paul, an influential apostle. Paula can also be found in Spanish and Portuguese cultures. The name carries the qualities of modesty, humility, and strength.
Popularity of the Name Paula
The popularity for the name Paula peaked in popularity in the year 1963 with 10,146 births, which ranked number 80 out of 11,100 unique names for that year. Paula had the most female births in 1963 with 10,146, which ranked number 42 out of 7,662 female names for that year, and had the most male births in 1958 with 27, which ranked number 1,511 out of 4,504 male names for that year. The number of births for the name Paula has declined over the last ten years from 385 births to 354 births, a decline of -8.05%. Among females, Paula has declined in popularity over the last ten years from 385 births to 349 births, a decline of -9.35%.
Nationwide Popularity of Paula
- 20 Year Trend of Paula: -15.51%
- 10 Year Trend of Paula: -8.05%
- 10 Year Female Trend of Paula: -9.35%
Popularity of Paula by State
Among females, Paula was most popular in Southwestern states with 102 births in the region. It was most commonly used in TX, with 85 female births. See below for a full state by state breakdown of the name Paula. States with less than five births recorded will not be shown.
| State | Male Births | Male Gender Rank | Female Births | Female Gender Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | < 5 | N/A | 17 | 395 |
| CA | < 5 | N/A | 51 | 668 |
| FL | < 5 | N/A | 47 | 411 |
| GA | < 5 | N/A | 9 | 981 |
| IL | < 5 | N/A | 13 | 744 |
| MA | < 5 | N/A | 8 | 595 |
| MO | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 910 |
| NJ | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 1055 |
| NY | < 5 | N/A | 23 | 698 |
| OH | < 5 | N/A | 8 | 1016 |
| PA | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 1394 |
| TN | < 5 | N/A | 8 | 816 |
| TX | < 5 | N/A | 85 | 403 |
| WA | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 931 |
2024 Popularity Projections for Paula
- Total Births of Paula: 351 (-0.84%)
- Female Births of Paula: 346 (-0.98%)
Given the downward trend of Paula over the last 10 years, we expect this to continue in 2024 with roughly a -0.84% decrease in total births, for a total of 351 births in 2024. For Females, births for Paula have been decreasing over the past 10 years, and we expect roughly 346 female births in 2024, a decrease of -0.98%.