Paula
#853 for girls in 2025, 318 births · Last seen for boys in 2023 at #10,821
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1954 · 9,686 births
- Debut · girls
- 9 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 32 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 280,856since 1880
Paula over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #853 | 318 | — | |
| 2024 | #752 | 375 | — | |
| 2023 | #706 | 402 | #10,821 | 6 |
| 2022 | #806 | 349 | #10,863 | 6 |
| 2021 | #822 | 338 | — | |
| 2020 | #822 | 331 | #12,022 | 5 |
| 2019 | #753 | 373 | — | |
| 2018 | #793 | 344 | — | |
| 2017 | #856 | 319 | #12,246 | 5 |
| 2016 | #826 | 348 | — | |
| 2015 | #889 | 310 | #8,040 | 9 |
| 2014 | #993 | 267 | — | |
| 2013 | #847 | 307 | — | |
| 2012 | #721 | 385 | — | |
| 2011 | #817 | 325 | — | |
| 2010 | #814 | 332 | — | |
| 2009 | #781 | 362 | #10,994 | 6 |
| 2008 | #678 | 448 | #12,553 | 5 |
| 2007 | #651 | 455 | #12,367 | 5 |
| 2006 | #667 | 431 | — | |
| 2005 | #667 | 416 | #8,299 | 8 |
| 2004 | #651 | 419 | #9,948 | 6 |
| 2003 | #719 | 356 | — | |
| 2002 | #615 | 416 | #10,667 | 5 |
| 2001 | #600 | 420 | — | |
| 2000 | #572 | 454 | #7,416 | 8 |
| 1999 | #564 | 446 | — | |
| 1998 | #545 | 457 | #9,631 | 5 |
| 1997 | #489 | 504 | — | |
| 1996 | #454 | 552 | — | |
| 1995 | #458 | 553 | #6,407 | 8 |
| 1994 | #402 | 623 | #6,372 | 8 |
| 1993 | #400 | 630 | #4,447 | 13 |
| 1992 | #338 | 776 | #8,435 | 5 |
| 1991 | #320 | 849 | #6,519 | 7 |
| 1990 | #296 | 940 | #4,993 | 10 |
| 1989 | #320 | 794 | #3,446 | 16 |
| 1988 | #304 | 812 | #3,523 | 14 |
| 1987 | #272 | 903 | #4,573 | 9 |
| 1986 | #279 | 881 | #3,882 | 11 |
| 1985 | #249 | 1,015 | #4,052 | 10 |
| 1984 | #230 | 1,102 | #3,701 | 11 |
| 1983 | #220 | 1,159 | #3,071 | 14 |
| 1982 | #204 | 1,328 | #2,596 | 18 |
| 1981 | #186 | 1,480 | #3,412 | 12 |
| 1980 | #173 | 1,598 | #4,495 | 8 |
| 1979 | #165 | 1,694 | #3,810 | 10 |
| 1978 | #150 | 1,827 | #3,614 | 10 |
| 1977 | #144 | 2,043 | #3,203 | 12 |
| 1976 | #121 | 2,250 | #4,418 | 7 |
| 1975 | #108 | 2,651 | #2,450 | 17 |
| 1974 | #96 | 3,061 | #2,277 | 18 |
| 1973 | #87 | 3,504 | #2,124 | 19 |
| 1972 | #72 | 4,260 | #2,659 | 13 |
| 1971 | #63 | 5,379 | #2,464 | 15 |
| 1970 | #57 | 6,055 | #1,889 | 22 |
| 1969 | #50 | 6,753 | #1,767 | 22 |
| 1968 | #45 | 7,637 | #1,650 | 23 |
| 1967 | #46 | 7,694 | #1,609 | 23 |
| 1966 | #50 | 7,856 | #2,216 | 13 |
| 1965 | #49 | 7,915 | #1,806 | 19 |
| 1964 | #45 | 9,498 | #1,975 | 17 |
| 1963 | #42 | 10,156 | #1,513 | 27 |
| 1962 | #60 | 7,193 | #2,673 | 10 |
| 1961 | #60 | 7,744 | #1,876 | 19 |
| 1960 | #55 | 8,066 | #2,042 | 16 |
| 1959 | #51 | 8,059 | #1,759 | 21 |
| 1958 | #53 | 8,025 | #1,511 | 27 |
| 1957 | #49 | 8,544 | #2,093 | 15 |
| 1956 | #47 | 8,925 | #1,676 | 22 |
| 1955 | #39 | 9,585 | #2,219 | 13 |
| 1954 | #38 | 9,686 | #2,316 | 12 |
| 1953 | #40 | 9,557 | #2,038 | 15 |
| 1952 | #47 | 8,567 | #1,856 | 17 |
| 1951 | #51 | 7,290 | #2,844 | 8 |
| 1950 | #54 | 6,631 | #2,580 | 9 |
| 1949 | #55 | 6,577 | #1,754 | 18 |
| 1948 | #52 | 6,600 | #2,443 | 10 |
| 1947 | #54 | 6,102 | #2,862 | 8 |
| 1946 | #69 | 4,724 | #2,143 | 12 |
| 1945 | #67 | 3,798 | #2,131 | 11 |
| 1944 | #82 | 3,315 | #1,890 | 14 |
| 1943 | #93 | 3,042 | #1,764 | 17 |
| 1942 | #136 | 1,974 | #2,523 | 9 |
| 1941 | #151 | 1,540 | — | |
| 1940 | #155 | 1,372 | #2,478 | 9 |
| 1939 | #159 | 1,348 | #3,480 | 5 |
| 1938 | #163 | 1,318 | #2,646 | 8 |
| 1937 | #165 | 1,212 | — | |
| 1936 | #185 | 982 | #3,147 | 6 |
| 1935 | #220 | 774 | — | |
| 1934 | #228 | 759 | #2,266 | 11 |
| 1933 | #245 | 611 | — | |
| 1932 | #238 | 658 | — | |
| 1931 | #250 | 585 | #3,095 | 7 |
| 1930 | #251 | 614 | #2,781 | 9 |
| 1929 | #254 | 619 | #3,959 | 5 |
| 1928 | #276 | 558 | — | |
| 1927 | #271 | 602 | — | |
| 1926 | #286 | 541 | #4,201 | 5 |
| 1925 | #307 | 464 | — | |
| 1924 | #329 | 418 | — | |
| 1923 | #337 | 378 | — | |
| 1922 | #373 | 305 | — | |
| 1921 | #373 | 326 | — | |
| 1920 | #354 | 343 | — | |
| 1919 | #414 | 245 | — | |
| 1918 | #401 | 265 | — | |
| 1917 | #359 | 303 | #3,981 | 5 |
| 1916 | #361 | 289 | — | |
| 1915 | #398 | 228 | — | |
| 1914 | #390 | 184 | — | |
| 1913 | #396 | 150 | — | |
| 1912 | #357 | 164 | — | |
| 1911 | #392 | 105 | — | |
| 1910 | #417 | 89 | — | |
| 1909 | #421 | 76 | — | |
| 1908 | #399 | 83 | — | |
| 1907 | #408 | 76 | — | |
| 1906 | #349 | 89 | — | |
| 1905 | #409 | 68 | — | |
| 1904 | #371 | 79 | — | |
| 1903 | #419 | 57 | — | |
| 1902 | #490 | 41 | — | |
| 1901 | #425 | 50 | — | |
| 1900 | #494 | 47 | — | |
| 1899 | #461 | 40 | — | |
| 1898 | #415 | 55 | — | |
| 1897 | #438 | 45 | — | |
| 1896 | #420 | 47 | — | |
| 1895 | #480 | 37 | — | |
| 1894 | #487 | 34 | — | |
| 1893 | #391 | 47 | — | |
| 1892 | #419 | 40 | — | |
| 1891 | #377 | 44 | — | |
| 1890 | #429 | 35 | — | |
| 1889 | #421 | 33 | — | |
| 1888 | #476 | 27 | — | |
| 1887 | #435 | 26 | — | |
| 1886 | #476 | 21 | — | |
| 1885 | #542 | 16 | — | |
| 1884 | #614 | 12 | — | |
| 1883 | #435 | 19 | — | |
| 1882 | #813 | 6 | — | |
| 1881 | #582 | 9 | — | |
| 1880 | #580 | 9 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Paula was already there! It came in at #580, and was given to 9 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1882, when fewer than 10 girls a year got the name.
Where Paula is popular in 1998
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Idaho#287 · 1 in 1,180
- Florida#347 · 1 in 2,008
- New Jersey#354 · 1 in 2,074
- Texas#411 · 1 in 2,391
- California#446 · 1 in 2,570
Best ever in a state: #19 in Rhode Island, 1947.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | #287 | 5 | 1 in 1,180 |
| Florida | #347 | 37 | 1 in 2,008 |
| New Jersey | #354 | 20 | 1 in 2,074 |
| Texas | #411 | 60 | 1 in 2,391 |
| California | #446 | 86 | 1 in 2,570 |
| Oregon | #447 | 7 | 1 in 2,349 |
| Iowa | #455 | 5 | 1 in 2,812 |
| Mississippi | #475 | 5 | 1 in 2,436 |
| Tennessee | #485 | 10 | 1 in 3,053 |
| New York | #497 | 33 | 1 in 3,052 |
| Michigan | #525 | 15 | 1 in 3,434 |
| Illinois | #528 | 21 | 1 in 3,353 |
| Maryland | #536 | 7 | 1 in 3,420 |
| Massachusetts | #546 | 8 | 1 in 3,988 |
| Louisiana | #555 | 7 | 1 in 3,121 |
| South Carolina | #556 | 5 | 1 in 3,358 |
| North Carolina | #565 | 11 | 1 in 3,826 |
| Colorado | #570 | 7 | 1 in 3,180 |
| Missouri | #618 | 7 | 1 in 4,241 |
| Arizona | #642 | 8 | 1 in 3,652 |
| Georgia | #642 | 10 | 1 in 4,454 |
| Washington | #685 | 7 | 1 in 4,176 |
| Pennsylvania | #734 | 10 | 1 in 5,830 |
| Virginia | #747 | 6 | 1 in 5,652 |
| Indiana | #830 | 5 | 1 in 6,616 |
| Ohio | #850 | 8 | 1 in 7,703 |
| Alabama | — | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Minnesota | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Paula
- 101 spots since 2024 (#752 → #853)
- 31 spots since 2020 (#822 → #853)
- 36 spots since 2015 (#889 → #853)
- Biggest jump: 378 spots in 1883 (#813 → #435)
- Biggest drop: 231 spots in 1882 (#582 → #813)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1954 at #38 (9,686 births)
- Births halved by 1972, 18 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 32 yrs · run 1943–1974
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 190 girls born in 1963 were named Paula (0.53%)
- Latest: 1 in 5,054 girls born in 2025 (0.02%)
- Its best rank, #38 in 1954, was only 1 in 200 (0.50%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 30.2% of all girls named Paula (84,869) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 178 | #421 (1889) | #537 |
| 1890s | 424 | #377 (1891) | #432 |
| 1900s | 666 | #349 (1906) | #419 |
| 1910s | 2,022 | #357 (1912) | #389 |
| 1920s | 4,554 | #254 (1929) | #316 |
| 1930s | 8,861 | #159 (1939) | #210 |
| 1940s | 39,044 | #52 (1948) | #91 |
| 1950s | 84,869 | #38 (1954) | #47 |
| 1960s | 80,512 | #42 (1963) | #50 |
| 1970s | 32,724 | #57 (1970) | #106 |
| 1980s | 11,072 | #173 (1980) | #244 |
| 1990s | 6,330 | #296 (1990) | #427 |
| 2000s | 4,177 | #572 (2000) | #660 |
| 2010s | 3,310 | #721 (2012) | #831 |
| 2020s | 2,113 | #706 (2023) | #794 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Paula in 1998
Top girls' names in 1998
Top boys' names in 1998
More about 1998
girls
1,766,949 girls got a published name in 1998; 1 in 3,866 of them was named Paula, which outranked 96.7% of the 16,601 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 11.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
boys
1,911,366 boys got a published name in 1998; 1 in 382,273 of them was named Paula, which outranked 14.9% of the 11,311 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 14.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Tied with 1,680 names at #9,631; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.