Paula

PAW·luh (US English) · 2 syllables

Paula feels distinctive without creating everyday friction in daily use.

87/100

Strong Practical Fit

Balanced across pronunciation, everyday use, lifetime fit and international use.

Name Profile

Pronunciation & Spelling
Effortless
A documented English pronunciation is on file: PAW-luh (US English).
91/100
Everyday Use
Low risk
95/100
Growing Up
Strong lifetime fit
Works comfortably across child and adult settings.
82/100
International Use
Broad international fit
Works cleanly across the assessed languages and writing systems.
85/100

ORIGIN & HISTORY

About the name

Paula is the feminine form of the Roman family name Paulus (also Paullus), from the Latin adjective paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." The name gained enduring religious significance through Saint Paula of Rome, a 4th-century companion of Saint Jerome, and carries a secondary Christian association with the apostle Paul. It is used, largely unchanged in form, across a wide range of European languages.

Paulus/Paullus (Latin, masculine root). "Small" or "humble" — feminine form of the Roman family name Paulus/Paullus, from the Latin adjective paulus ("small"). The name gained lasting religious significance through Saint Paula of Rome, a 4th-century companion of Saint Jerome, and is also associated with the New Testament apostle Paul (born Saul of Tarsus), contributing to its adoption following the spread of Christianity.
Mythological and religious contextAssociated with Saint Paula of Rome (4th century), a companion of Saint Jerome, and secondarily with the New Testament apostle Paul, both of which contributed to the name's adoption in the Christian naming tradition.

POPULARITY

Paula over time

United States

#855RANK

Rank #855 gives national context, not a classroom forecast.

Uncommon in current U.S. usage. Ranked #855 in the U.S., 2025.

SourceU.S. Social Security Administration · 2025 release

Pronunciation & Forms

SAY IT

PAW·luh (US English)

STRESS ON THE FIRST SYLLABLE

OTHER-LANGUAGE FORMS

PaulusLatin masculine root

Cultural Footprint

Widely used across many European languages as a direct cognate rather than being tied to one national naming tradition.

More about Paula

FORMALITY

Paula functions as a complete, standalone given name rather than a diminutive or nickname form.

EDITORIAL SYNTHESIS

The Decision

Paula is spelled without unusual letter patterns, and it holds up in everyday use. Surname-dependent compatibility remains unassessed until a surname is added.

STRENGTH

A documented English pronunciation is on file. Uses standard characters that systems widely handle cleanly.

BEST FIT

Everyday Use is the strongest-scoring part of this name — no obvious nickname traps, rhymes, or initial issues detected.

FULL-NAME CHECK