Paula

♀ Girl

Pronounced PAW-luh /ˈpɔː.lə/High

Meaning: Feminine form of the Roman family name Paulus, from the Latin paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble'; the name of the apostle Paul (born Saul), who adopted it as a given name symbolizing humilityHigh

In 30 seconds: Paula is the elegant feminine form of Paul, meaning small or humble in Latin. A saint's name with two millennia of Christian history, it has been a beloved feminine classic from ancient Rome to 20th-century American pop culture.

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Origin HighLatin

MeaningFeminine form of the Roman family name Paulus, from the Latin paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble'; the name of the apostle Paul (born Saul), who adopted it as a given name symbolizing humility

U.S. rank (2025)#855 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births318 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1963

Total births (all-time)≈ 280,855

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Paula is the feminine form of the Roman Paulus, from Latin paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble'. The name Paul is famous through the apostle Paul of Tarsus (c. 5–67 AD), who transformed Christianity through his missionary journeys and epistles. Paula became a feminine form in the Roman Christian community, borne notably by Saint Paula of Rome, a patroness of Jerome and the Latin Vulgate Bible.

Paula has been used throughout Christian Europe and Latin America since antiquity. In the United States it was popular in the mid-20th century, ranking in the top 50 girls names in the 1950s and 1960s. Paula Abdul, the pop singer and choreographer who rose to fame in the 1980s, kept the name visible in American entertainment. It carries a warm, classic feel that spans generations.

Did you know? Saint Paula of Rome (347–404 AD) was a wealthy Roman widow who became one of Saint Jerome's closest companions and founded several monasteries in Bethlehem — making her one of the most influential women in early Christian history.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Paula — Latin etymology as feminine form of PaulusU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

PaolaPaulinaPolly

Nicknames

PollyPau

Famous Bearers

★Paula Abdul (1962–present)
American pop singer, choreographer, and television personality known for her hit albums and as a judge on American Idol.
★Saint Paula of Rome (347–404)
Roman noblewoman who became a Christian ascetic, companion of Jerome, and founder of monasteries in Bethlehem.

If you like Paula…

Diana— same mid-20th century peak era and the two-syllable Latin classic feminine feel

Donna— shares the Italian/Latin root and the 1950s–1960s American popularity peak

Linda— same generation of short, sweet, two-syllable mid-century American classic names

Carol— fellow two-syllable mid-century feminine classic with a warm, familiar quality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Paula mean?

Paula means small or humble in Latin, as the feminine form of Paulus.

How do you pronounce Paula?

It is said PAW-luh, with two syllables.

Is Paula a popular name?

Paula peaked in the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s and remains a classic, familiar name.

Is Paola the same as Paula?

Paola is the Italian and Spanish form of Paula; both share the same Latin root.