Home / Name Directory / Paula
How Many People Are Named Paula?
Estimated people named Paula living in the U.S. today
208,203
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 281,450
- Peak year: 1963 (10,178 births)
- Estimated living today: 208,203
Paula by age group — who carries the name today?
Paula popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Paula
Paula has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 281,450 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 208,203 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 1,642 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Paulas you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Paula in the US?
An estimated 208,203 people named Paula are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Paula uncommon — about 1 in 1,642 Americans.
Is Paula a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Paula is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Paula most popular?
Paula peaked in 1963, when 10,178 babies were given the name. Its current trend is steady compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Paula?
Paula ranks #262 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 38 out of 100 (higher means rarer).