Comments
Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
Impression
Other
This is my name and I’ve hated it my whole life for the simple reason that nearly everybody I meet says either ‘you don’t look like a Paula’ or ‘you’re far too young to be called Paula’. It obviously has very negative connotations for people which I don’t fully understand (because it’s my name and I’m used to hearing it!). They say everyone grows into their own name, but judging by people's reactions, I guess I never did!
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Paula Coughlin is a naval aviator and whistleblower who exposed the Tailhook Scandal in 1991.
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My name is Paula and growing up I was a tomboy but no-one ever called me Paul. But when asked my name Paula would be pronounced wrong a lot Marla, Darla, etc. The strangest thing when I was in middle school there was 3 Paula's people said that us 3 could pass for sister's all 3 of us were tall slender and blonds. Being named Paula has been interesting but fun also.
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Paula Barila Bolopa is a Equatoguinean retired football player and swimmer. She was one of two Equatorial Guinean swimmers to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the other being Eric Moussambani. Paula was nicknamed 'Paula The Crawler' by the international media at the time of the Sydney Olympics.
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I don't like it. It's very middle-aged woman sounding.
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Also Romansh:
Source: "Vornamen in der Schweiz. Prénoms en Suisse. I nomi in Svizzera. Prenoms in Svizra" (1993) published by the Association of Swiss registrars
https://sursassiala.ch/2015/01/15/familienforschung/
https://www.portraitarchiv.ch/portrait?page=105
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Source: "Vornamen in der Schweiz. Prénoms en Suisse. I nomi in Svizzera. Prenoms in Svizra" (1993) published by the Association of Swiss registrars
https://sursassiala.ch/2015/01/15/familienforschung/
https://www.portraitarchiv.ch/portrait?page=105
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Paula-Mae Weekes, ORTT, is a Trinidadian politician and jurist who is the sixth president of Trinidad and Tobago. She is the first female President of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the second female head of state in Trinidad and Tobago after Elizabeth II and the second female president of African descent in the Americas following Ertha Pascal-Trouillot. She took office on 19 March 2018.
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I love Paula for a name, I think it's beautiful. I agree with some of the other comments saying it's a “tomboyish name”, it definitely has a cool tomboy edge, which I love; however, I also think it could suit a girly-girl as well. Although its meaning “small” may seem to be a disadvantage, it could actually be a really beautiful thing if you put a unique translation into it. For example, it could refer to enjoying the little things in life; it could also represent always being a child at heart.
Overall, I think Paula is a really nice name.
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Overall, I think Paula is a really nice name.
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Personally, when I think of someone named Paula they’re in their 50s but I guess it could be cute on someone younger. Maybe a different name like Paulette would be better if it was like an honorary name.
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Pretty, although I prefer Paulette.
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Perfect for a tomboy though:)
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I don't like this, but I love Paulette and Paul.
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Also Gascon, Provençal and Languedocian: https://ieo-oc.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=300 --- Source: Institut d'Estudis Occitans
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I don’t personally like this name or the masculine version, Paul. I however, find Paulette to be very pretty.
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Paula E Sheppard (1957-) played the title character in Alice, Sweet Alice (1976) and Adrian in Liquid Sky (1982). She was a remarkable actress but has since retired from the show business and lives a normal life. She can be found on IMDb.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0791974/
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https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0791974/
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Paula is also Estonian. The name day for Paula in Estonia is June 22.
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Just, well, just boring. It is nice, but like sound is missing, or something. Just boring.
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I have had people think that I have introduced myself as "Karla" many times in the past. It was interesting when I met someone, named Karla, who told me she had been called "Paula". We had fun with it, and to this day we call each other by the opposite names.
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It's good enough, but I prefer other feminine forms of Paul.
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Also occasionally used in Slovene: https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula
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Also Corsican: http://www.corsicami.com/corse%20prenoms/prenoms_corses_m01.htm
https://co.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frassetu
You'll find numerous bearers on social media.
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https://co.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frassetu
You'll find numerous bearers on social media.
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Also Estonian: https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula
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We need more Paula's!
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Does anyone actually choose the name "Paula", or do they choose "Paul" then find out they're having a girl?
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Not bad. It doesn’t look anything like Josepha for the matter.
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It's just Paul with an A. All the girls I knew with this name were so butch and masculine.
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Paula Yates (1959-2000) was an American actress.
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Also Occitan: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_pr%C3%A9noms_occitans (Source: Institut d'études occitanes)
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Paula is such a gorgeous name. 10/10!
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Paula Seling is a Romanian singer who with OVI represented her country in 2010 and 2014 Eurovision. Their 2010 song was "Playing With Fire" while their 2014 song was "Miracle". They qualified both times, yet only cracked the Top 10 in 2010.
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Also Latvian: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/sakums/statistika/personvardu-datu-baze/?id=137&query=Paula [noted -ed]
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As a kid I hated my name because of its similarity to the very masculine 'Paul'. Now I've come to like it quite a lot. It's fairly uncommon these days.
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Paula is my name also. I always liked the sound and spelling of my name. When I was young I didn't like having an unusual name because I wanted to blend in. As I grew older I have come to totally love it because I don't want to blend in or be like everyone else.
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In 2018, 47 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Paula who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 209th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
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Paula seems like a soft, sweet, feminine name. Forget about all the bad associations I love this name!
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My name is Paula and I love my name even if some people make fun of it, but I'm okay with it. I was always the lonely one, always by myself, but I'm okay with it, I've been picked on since first school and I'm in high school now but still I love my name.
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Why would anybody make fun of that name? That is absolutely ridiculous. I'm sorry that you have to go through that. Paula is a very beautiful name and no one has the right to pick on you about it.
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I am also named Paula. I love the name. I was named after my dad, whose name is Paul, which makes it even more special. I think the meaning fits me pretty well too, seeing as how I am very small. I love it, even though people like to make fun of it. Oh well, it is the name I was given and for that I am truly thankful to my parents.
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Paula Faris is an American television correspondent for ABC News. Until January 22, 2013, Faris co-anchored the news programs World News Now and America This Morning on ABC with Rob Nelson. On July 18, 2014, Faris was promoted to co-anchor of Good Morning America Weekend. Starting with season 19, Faris has become a permanent co-host of The View.
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Paula Julie Abdul is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter, voice actress, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 before rising to prominence in the 1980s as a highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era. Abdul later scored a string of pop music hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her six number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 tie her with Diana Ross for seventh among the female solo performers who have topped the chart. She won a Grammy for "Best Music Video – Short Form" for "Opposites Attract" and twice won the "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography".
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The name Paula was given to 346 girls born in the US in 2016.
More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name Paula are female.
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More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name Paula are female.
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In Spanish this is pronounced pa-o-luh.
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The late Paula Danziger was an author. She wrote children's and YA novels.
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This is my name, and I'm not a fan, but there are worse names. I prefer my middle name, Michelle, but then again, that name was super popular for my generation, and I do prefer having a name that is neither popular nor rare. I dislike the fact that I have basically a male name with a letter shoved on the end, and there aren't many nickname options. I do love Polly, but it doesn't sound good with my surname. I don't mind it being shortened to Paul, but mostly, nobody does, because it's a boys' name, and they think I won't like it. Paulie just increases the confusion with Pauline - and I am often mistaken for a Pauline, as it is. I think that Paula is more attractive than Pauline, and probably Paulina, Paulette and Pauletta are the nicest feminine versions of Paul.
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That's cool. My middle name is Michelle also. I decided to change my middle name along with my first. Paula Michelle sounds awesome! I am sorry that you really don't like the name. People have accidentally left the A off at the end of mine, calling me Paul in texts. This has only happened twice so far though. Honestly, I really love the name Paula due to the fact that I think it sounds nice, and it is rare. I don't like having a name that everyone else and their mother has. This is what was happening with my birth name as well. Everyone had it. No way. Not for me.
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I was born in 1984. Growing up, I really despised my name, so I just had it legally changed to Paula a little over two weeks ago. I love this name because I think it suits me a lot better than my previous name did. I also love the name because I think it sounds very feminine and beautiful on me. Going through changing my name from what it was to Paula and getting everything switched over afterward was extremely stressful, but it is worth it because I feel so much better about myself now.
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Paula Maxine Patton is an American actress. Patton made her film debut in the 2005 comedy film Hitch and starred in the epic fantasy film Warcraft, based on the game series of the same name. Patton has also been the female lead in Déjà Vu, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and 2 Guns, she also appeared in the critically successful Precious.
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I really like this name. I'm thinking about naming my daughter this one day. We need more girls named Paula!
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I think this is the best feminine form of Paul!
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Paula Fernandes de Souza is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and arranger. In a poll organized among readers of VIP magazine in 2011, she was named the 16th "sexiest woman in the world."
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My name is Paula and I was born in 1980 and I do and don't like my name. I don't like it because I was named after my Great Grandpa Paul who was not a nice man. Frankly, I would rather go by my middle name but everybody I know already calls me by my first name.
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My name is Paula and I was born in 2002. But I was only named this because it's my Nonna's (grandma in Italian) name and in Italy kids are usually named after their Nonni (grandparents). To be honest, I don't like this name that much, but whatever
Also, in Italian it's spelt Paola and pronounced POW-lah.
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Also, in Italian it's spelt Paola and pronounced POW-lah.
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This name always reminds me of the Super Nintendo role playing game Earthbound for some reason, being the nerd that I am. Paula Polestar is the first person to join Ness and is a potent psychic. She also is key to beating the final boss. I also just like this name.
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My mother's name is Paula and yes she was born in the 50's and 60's Paula kraze, but her father's name was Paul and she wanted to continue it, so my first name is Paulina even though hardly anyone calls me by it, I mostly go by my middle name.
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Paula is such a lovely & pretty name. :)
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Paula. Sounds very beautiful and elegant. Why don't the parents give this name anymore in the US? I would be grateful if this name was used so many times like in the '50s. :)
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Another diminutive of the name is "Paulinha" in Portuguese. [noted -ed]
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Nancy Drew was renamed Paula in the Finnish books, although she's usually referred to as 'neiti Etsivä' (miss Detective).
Similarly, Georgina/"George" from the Famous Five is known as Paula/"Pauli" in Finnish.
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Similarly, Georgina/"George" from the Famous Five is known as Paula/"Pauli" in Finnish.
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Not really a big fan of this name, although I do like Paul. I was surprised to see how popular it is in some countries, but I have to say I'd rather meet a little girl named Paula than say Madison or Kayla, yuck!
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Paula (1823-1833) was the daughter of King Pedro IV of Portugal and his wife Maria Leopoldine of Austria.
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Paula Maxine Patton is an American actress.
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Pronounced POW-lah in Croatian. [noted -ed]
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I don't really like this name. It's not that pretty.
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Another bearer is singer Paula Cole (born 1968). She is famous for the Dawson's Creek theme song as well as the hit single "Where Have all the Cowboys Gone".
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It is pronounced POW-lə in Spanish and German, like the Portuguese pronunciation.
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Pronounced [POW-luh] in Portuguese. It was extremely popular during the 1960's in Portugal.
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Paula was another of Adolf Hitler's sisters.
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Also a feminine name in Croatia. [noted -ed]
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Many years ago a young man appeared as a contestant on Groucho Marx's television show You Bet Your Life. It seems that his parents were hoping for a girl whom they would have named Paula. He was born instead and they named him Paula anyway! He seemed quite well adjusted.
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Out of all the Taylors, Catherines, Jessicas, Jennifers and Emilys this is a nice breath of air. It's short, sweet, pretty and fits both young and old.
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I love this name - lovely look, lovely sound.
I think Paula Abdul and a lot of Paulas of her age group owe their names to the 1960s pop duo Paul and Paula with that hit song "Hey Paula, I want to marry you/ Hey hey Paul, I want to marry you too."
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I think Paula Abdul and a lot of Paulas of her age group owe their names to the 1960s pop duo Paul and Paula with that hit song "Hey Paula, I want to marry you/ Hey hey Paul, I want to marry you too."
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Paula Fox is a writer. Unfortunately, she is the grandmother of Courtney Love.
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I prefer Paola than Paula, it's ugly.
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I once knew a girl who pronounced it Pow-oo-la. Sounds funny when you say it out loud.
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There is a singer, actress and model named Paula Mitrache who also goes by the name Haiducii (Romanian for "the outlaws" and yes it is PLURAL). Maybe you know the song Dragostea din Tei by O-zone. Haiducii released her own version in Romania six months after it was first released in Moldova by O-zone. Both groups have accused each other of taking it without permission and O-zone won in court. Haiducii currently lives in Rome.
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Paula Mezga is a character in the TV show "Mezga Csalad" (Smolíkovi).
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Paula Spurr, a Christian music singer (who happens to be my best friend's mom), has this name.
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I like Paula because it is the female counterpart to Paul. My last name is Revere. Paul was best known for being a messenger. I have a message. Therefore, Paula Revere lives.
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I love this name! Even though it is A LOT like "Paul", Paula is a good subsitute.
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Famous bearer is Paula Abdul.
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My name is Paula. I must say that growing up I didn't like my name. I was always the only one in school with this name. But having grown up, I appreciate the fact that there are very few of us out there. To me now, it's a unique name which feels very pretty to me. And the fact that it means small suits me well too. I would recommend this name for a little girl.
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Paula was the girl played by Debra Winger in the film 'An Officer And A Gentleman.'
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Famous bearer is Paula Deen from the Food Network. And to help out MusicRat, the nice judge from American Idol is Paula Abdul.
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The nice judge from American Idol, although I don't know her last name, oh well.
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Even though I think Paula is a dreadful name, one of my favorite people in the world is named Paula and I've grown to like it.
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Paula is pretty and cute.
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Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy.
• https://nl.wiktionary.org/wiki/Paula (in Dutch)
• https://nl.forvo.com/search/Paula/nl/ (in Dutch)
• https://youtu.be/KCtRGMqhjxM (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:00 and 0:20)
• https://youtu.be/sNB96dMl2xY (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:04)
Converted to IPA, it should be: /'pɑu̯.la:/ [noted -ed]