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Pauline

♀ Girl

Pronounced paw-LEEN /pɔˈlin/High

Meaning: Small, humble; French feminine of Paul, from Latin PaulusHigh

In 30 seconds: A French classic awaiting its Josephine moment: Pauline — Paul's 'small and humble' in feminine silk — ruled a century of nurseries and film criticism's sharpest pen.

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Origin HighFrench, Latin

MeaningSmall, humble; French feminine of Paul, from Latin Paulus

U.S. rank (2025)#2986 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births56 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 226,404

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Pauline is the French feminine of Paul — Latin Paulus, 'small, humble' — borne by Napoleon's glamorous sister Pauline Bonaparte and by a century of European and American women. Film critic Pauline Kael wielded it as the most feared byline in movies.

It peaked in early twentieth-century America and now sits in prime revival territory beside Josephine and Eleanor — vintage, complete, and Polly-equipped. Currently rare on new certificates.

Did you know? The Perils of Pauline (1914) — the cliffhanger serial that left its heroine tied to railroad tracks — made Pauline silent cinema's most endangered name.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Pauline — etymology

Variations

PaulinaPaulaPaulette

Nicknames

PollyPaulieLina

Famous Bearers

★Pauline Kael (1919–2001)
American film critic for The New Yorker, the most influential reviewer of her era.

If you like Pauline…

Josephine— the fellow French -ine classic leading the revival

Paulina— the Latinate sister form

Eleanor— a companion vintage queen returned to favor

Christine— another classic pick

Lorraine— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Pauline

By themeclassic french vintage

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Pauline mean?

Pauline is the French feminine of Paul, from Latin Paulus, meaning 'small' or 'humble'.

How do you pronounce Pauline?

It's said paw-LEEN /pɔˈlin/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Pauline a boy or girl name?

Pauline is a girl's name.

How popular is Pauline?

Pauline is rare for newborns today, a vintage classic positioned for revival.