Paulla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PAW-lah /ˈpɔːlə/
Origin: Latin; Spanish
Meaning: Latin: small; Spanish: a variant of Paula
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Paulla is derived from the Latin name "Paulus," which means "small" or "humble." The Latin "Paulus" itself originates from the earlier Roman family name, which was used in various forms throughout the Roman Empire. As Latin evolved into the Romance languages, the name took on various adaptations, including "Paula" in Late Latin, which was used to denote female bearers of the name.
The transition into English occurred through the influence of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where many Latin names were integrated into the English lexicon, often in their anglicized forms. Historically, the name Paulla has been associated with several notable figures.
One of the most significant is Saint Paula of Rome, who lived in the 4th century and was a prominent figure in early Christianity. She was known for her piety and her role in establishing monastic communities, particularly in Bethlehem, where she founded a convent.
Her life and works were documented by Saint Jerome, who was a contemporary of hers, and her influence helped to spread the name within Christian contexts. Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and translations, including the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible, which was completed in the late 4th century.
Culturally, the name Paulla carries connotations of humility and modesty, reflective of its etymological roots. It has been used in various literary and artistic contexts, often symbolizing virtues associated with smallness or simplicity.
The name's connection to Saint Paula has also imbued it with a sense of spiritual significance, making it a choice for those seeking a name with historical and religious depth. While diminutive forms such as "Paulette" exist, they are less commonly referenced in historical texts.
Overall, the name Paulla reflects a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural resonance.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Paulla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Paulla. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Paulla was first seen in the United States in 1942.
Paulla has ranked as high as #1011 nationally, which occurred in 1951, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Paulla has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Paulla is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Paulla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Paulla
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Paulla.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1981 | 5 |
| 1974 | 7 |
| 1972 | 5 |
| 1971 | 8 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1968 | 9 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1966 | 7 |
| 1965 | 8 |
| 1964 | 12 |
| 1963 | 14 |
| 1962 | 5 |
| 1961 | 7 |
| 1959 | 7 |
| 1958 | 7 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1955 | 10 |
| 1954 | 12 |
| 1953 | 8 |
| 1952 | 11 |
| 1951 | 14 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1949 | 9 |
| 1948 | 10 |
| 1947 | 12 |
| 1946 | 9 |
| 1944 | 9 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 5 |