Origin, Meaning, And History Of Paula
Paula is a feminine given name derived from the Roman surname Paulus or the name Paul which translates to ‘humble’ or ‘small’ in Latin. As a surname, Paula is said to be a shortened form of the personal name Francisco de Paula, given after Saint Francis of Paola.
Its parent derivative Paul is the name of one of the most significant Christian missionaries to have lived according to the New Testament of the Bible. Paul initially went by Saul and was a Roman Jewish citizen. His transformation as a christian happened when Jesus Christ confronted him about his actions. He later became a revered Christian missionary across the Eastern Mediterranean.
Paula has a legacy dating back to the ancient era. Saint Paula, a Roman born into royalty in the fourth century, dedicated her life to serving the poor. She lived in St. Jerome’s time and traveled with him. Nowadays, Croatia, Chile, Austria, Spain, and Catalonia are among the many places where the name Paula is quite common. It is also used as a given name in German, English, Estonian, Spanish, Portuguese, Finnish, Catalan, Hungarian, Polish, Dutch, Romanian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Croatian languages.
Paula came to be most commonly used in the US in the 19th century. Some prominent variants of this name include Pavla in Czech, Paule, and Paulette in French, Paola in Italian, Pàula in Sardinian, Pála in Icelandic, and Pavla in Slovene.
It is also a popular name in pop culture. For example, Paula Thackery is a fictitious character that often appears in the American sitcom television series Charles in Charge and is portrayed by Julianne McNamara. Another character by the name is Paula Jones from EarthBound, the Super Nintendo video game where she is one of the protagonists.
Paula
How To Pronounce Paula?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Paula in English.
Famous People With The Name Paula
- Paula Julie AbdulAmerican singer, dancer, and actress, best-known for her album Forever Your Girl, which consists of several number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
- Paula CreamerAmerican golfer, widely known for ranking as the 2nd best women’s golfer, winner of 11 American Junior Golf Association tournaments
- Paula Fernandes de SouzaBrazilian singer and songwriter, famous for receiving a Latin Grammy Award for notable work in the album Amanhecer
Paula On The Popularity Chart
The name Paula was quite popular in the late 80s, but it has been declining in the baby charts. Check the graphs by the Social Security Administration to know more.
Popularity Over Time
As the name has been falling off the charts, Paula is currently shared by only 336 babies per million in the US.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Similar to its popularity, Pula has been decreasing in ranking as well. As of 2021, the name is positioned at 821st rank, and its highest was in 1980 at 173rd.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound To Paula
If you are looking to explore more names that sound like Paula, here are some suggestions.
Popular Sibling Names For Paula
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Paula, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Paula
Find matching brother names for Paula and create a wonderful team of siblings.
PalikaPaol Paul Paulin Paulinus Paull Paulus Pauly Placid Plinio Girl Sibling Names For Paula
Looking for some suitable sister names for Paula? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
PalapalaPalden Palma Palmira Paloma Palomi Paola Pauletta Paulita Paulmi Other Popular Names Beginning With P
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter P to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Paula
If you want a name that means the same as Paula but sounds different? Take a look at the options listed below.
Popular Songs On The Name Paula
Paula’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology, also called Jyotisha, provides deep insights into a person’s life based on celestial positions at birth. Rashi and nakshatra, which are an integral part of Jyotisha, are believed to influence an individual’s personality and life events. The following sections give you rashi-related information, such as the associated letters, elements, ruling body, quality, and nakshatra for the name Paula. These details help analyze a person’s characteristics, personality, and behavior.
Zodiac Sign (Rashi)
As shown in the following table, each rashi is associated with specific sounds, which are often used as the starting letters of names for newborns in Hindu families. Each rashi is represented by a figure and one of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (Space). One ruling celestial body, known as its 'rashi lord' or 'ruler' is assigned to these rashis. These bodies include Venus, Mars, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, the rashis are assigned various qualities or gunas.
| Rashi (zodiac sign) | Kanya (Virgo) |
|---|---|
| Starting letters for Kanya (Virgo) rashi | P, THA |
| Representation | Virgin girl |
| Element | Earth |
| Ruling body | Mercury |
| Quality | Dual |
Birth Star (Nakshatra)
Another important aspect of Vedic Astrology is the nakshatras, the lunar constellations or star clusters that the Moon occupies during a person's birth. There are 27 nakshatras, each with its own unique qualities, attributes, and symbolism. Each rashi contains two-and-one-fourth nakshatras in it. For example, Aries contains Ashwini, Bharani, and Krithika nakshatras.
The below table provides information on the nakshatras’ degrees on the zodiac circle, their lords and related syllables, for babies born in the Kanya (Virgo) rashi. These syllables/phonetics are popularly used to choose the baby name. For precise nakshatra calculation based on your baby's birthplace and date, use our Nakshatra Calculator.
| Nakshatra | Degrees Of The Nakshatra | Nakshatra Lord (Ruler) | Name Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uttara Phalguni (Uthiram, Utram) | Virgo (0 to 10 degrees) | Sun | Te, Ta, Taa, To, Pa, Paa, Pi, Pee |
| Hastha (Atham, Hastam) | Virgo (10 to 23.20 degrees) | Moon | Pu, Sha, Shaa, Na, Poo, Tha |
| Chitra (Chitta, Chithira) | Virgo (23.20 to 30 degrees) | Mars | Pe, Po, Ra, Raa, Ri, Ree |
Infographic: Know The Name Paula‘s Personality As Per Numerology
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Paula In Different Languages
It’s exciting to see our baby’s name spelled and written in various languages. See how people spell Paula in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more! Each language has its own way of saying Paula, but it’s still the same special name. Learn how the name looks and sounds in different languages around the world!
| Name | Language | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Paula | English | en |
| 宝拉 | Chinese | zh-CN |
| पाउला | Hindi | hi |
| Paula | Spanish | es |
| Paula | French | fr |
| باولا | Arabic | ar |
| পলা | Bengali | bn |
| Paula | Portuguese | pt |
| Паула | Russian | ru |
| پاؤلا | Urdu | ur |
| Paula | Indonesian | id |
| Paula | German | de |
| ポーラ | Japanese | ja |
| पाउला | Marathi | mr |
| పౌలా | Telugu | te |
| Paula | Turkish | tr |
| பாலா | Tamil | ta |
| Paula | Vietnamese | vi |
| Paula | Tagalog | tl |
| 폴라 | Korean | ko |
| Paula | Hausa | ha |
| Paula | Swahili | sw |
| Paula | Javanese | jv |
| Paula | Italian | it |
| ਪੌਲਾ | Punjabi | pa |
| પૌલા | Gujarati | gu |
| พอลล่า | Thai | th |
| ಪೌಲಾ | Kannada | kn |
| ፓውላ | Amharic | am |
| पाउला | Bhojpuri | bho |
| Paula | Yoruba | yo |
How To Communicate The Name Paula In Sign Languages
In Nautical Flags
paula
In Sign Language
paula
In Braille Alphabet
paula
In Morse Code
paula
Name Numerology For Paula
Numerology is an occult system that gives significance to numbers and their influence on human life and destiny. Numerologists attribute specific qualities, energies, and characteristics to a number. Parents who believe in numerology prefer to choose baby names that resonate positively with the child’s unique numerical vibrations, often derived from their date of birth. Here we give a general birth number and personality traits of the name Paula, based on the Pythagorean (Western) system. This analysis will differ from child to child based on their date of birth. You may use our numerology calculator for more personalized information.
Baby Name Lists Containing Paula
Read through our baby name lists that include the name Paula and several other similar names. The wider the choice, the better your selection. Isn't it?
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Movie Titles Inspired By The Name Paula
Discover the presence of Paula in an array of films. Know about the various movies that have this name.
| Movie title | Other titles | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Quem Matou Laura Paula | 2022 | |
| Paula Rego, Secrets & Stories | Paula Rego, Histórias & Segredos, Paula Rego, Secrets & Stories | 2017 |
| Paula | Ana Kalbi, El secreto de Paula, Någon att leva för, Paola, Pasión maternal, Paula - Mein Leben soll ein Fest sein, Paula, Coração de Mãe, Paula: Mi vida será una fiesta, Poikani Davey, The Mother, The Silent Voice, Wunder geschehen durch Liebe, Паула, 宝拉 | 2016 |
| The Adventures of Pepper and Paula | Die Abenteuer von Pepper & Paula, Pepper & Me | 2015 |
| Voll Paula! | 5 Stories in 4 Days | 2015 |
| The Adventures of Paula Peril | 2014 | |
| Paula Peril: Midnight Is the Darkest Hour | 2008 | |
| Paula's Secret | Le secret de Paula, Paula titka, Paulas Geheimnis | 2006 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Paula?
The name Paula means ‘humble’ or ‘small.’
2. What is the origin of the name Paula?
Paula has a Latin origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Paula?
Paula is pronounced as pau-la.
4. Is Paula a common or popular name?
Paula can be considered a fairly common name in the US. According to data provided by the Social Security Administration, the name stood at rank 801 in 2022, marking its spot among the Top 1000 names in the U.S. During the same year, the name had 349 babies using the name (1).
5. Is Paula an old and religious name?
Paula is not considered an old name in terms of being ancient or archaic since it is a name with enduring popularity. But the name has a long history of usage. It was borne by Saint Paula of Rome during the second and third centuries, who was a companion of Saint Jerome. The name may have religious significance since it is the feminine form of the name Paul, an important religious leader in the Bible and the author of several New Testament epistles.
6. What are some middle name options that go well with Paula?
The name Paula carries the connotation of ‘humble.’ Thus, to find a matching pair, you may consider these name suggestions carrying the meaning of either ‘girl’ or ‘woman’ to have a combined name meaning ‘humble woman.’ The names include Nina, Colleen, Cynthia, Ece, and Rhian.
7. What is an interesting fact or trivia about the name Paula?
The name Paula is the title of a memoir written by Chilean writer Isabelle Allende. She penned down the most tragic experiences of her life, which is perceived as a tribute to her departed daughter, Paula Frías Allende.
References:
- Baby names.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
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