Paula

girlLatinChristian

Paula is a Christian girl name of Latin origin, meaning “Small, humble”.

MeaningSmall, humble
GenderGirl
OriginLatin
PronunciationPAW-luh
TraditionChristian
Used inSpain, Germany, United States, Poland

Meaning and origin of Paula

Paula is the feminine of Paulus, a Roman family name meaning 'small'. The apostle Paul took this as his Roman name, and from him it spread throughout the Christian world. Saint Paula of Rome, a fourth-century widow, followed Saint Jerome to Bethlehem and helped him in his work on the Latin Bible. The name is used today across Europe and Latin America.

Is Paula a Christian name?

Paula honours the apostle Paul and also the early saint Paula of Rome, a companion of Jerome, so it is a long-established Christian name.

How popular is Paula?

Consistently popular in Spain, Germany and Latin America; less common in English-speaking countries now.

Gifts with the name Paula

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Spellings and variants of Paula

Names similar to Paula

More Christian girl names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Paula mean?

Paula means 'Small, humble'. It is of Latin origin.

Is Paula a Christian name?

Paula honours the apostle Paul and also the early saint Paula of Rome, a companion of Jerome, so it is a long-established Christian name.

How do you pronounce Paula?

Paula is pronounced PAW-luh.

Is Paula a boy or girl name?

Paula is usually a girl name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.