The story behind Paula
Borrowed from Latin Paula, feminine form of Paulus (“Paul”).
Other language forms and explanations (3)
Finnish entry
From Latin Paula, possibly via German. First recorded in the 16th century. By folk etymology sometimes associated with Finnish paula (“cord, ribbon”).
Portuguese entry
Borrowed from Latin Paula.
Spanish entry
Borrowed from Latin Paula. Feminine form of Pablo.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈpɔːlə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- cot-caught-merger: /ˈpɑlə/
- Finnish: /ˈpɑu̯lɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈpɑ̝u̯lɑ̝]
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈpaw.lɐ/
- Portuguese; Brazil: [ˈpaʊ̯.lɐ]
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈpaw.lɐ/
- Spanish: /ˈpaula/
- Spanish: [ˈpau̯.la]
Popularity
Paula ranked #855 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Paula
Pia
Borrowed from Latin pia (“pious, dutiful”), feminine of pius.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alma
Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia. From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anna
From Late Latin Anna both directly and via numerous other languages, chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anndra
From Latin Andreās, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέᾱς (Andréās).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aura
Shortened from Aurora.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Barbra
A female given name from Latin, a nonstandard spelling of Barbara. Associated with Barbra Streisand, who changed the spelling of her name from Barbara.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Paula
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbino
Borrowed from Latin Balbīnus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Paula
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length