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The short answer
Paula is a feminine name used in German and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Feminine form of Paulus (see Paul). This was the name of a 4th-century Roman saint who was a companion of Saint Jerome." It ranked #855 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, feminine form of Paulus (see Paul). This was the name of a 4th-century Roman saint who was a companion of Saint Jerome. The entry lists its usage as German, English, Finnish, Spanish and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Paula ranked #855 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #855 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (German) and that sit near Paula in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paula mean?
Behind the Name does not give Paula a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: feminine form of Paulus.
Is Paula a popular name?
Paula ranked #855 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Paula a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Paula appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Paula — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
