Paola
Girl name · #1259 in 2025 · Uniqueness 74/100
Paola ranks #1259 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 178 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #736, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,112 girls born in 2025 was named Paola.
Babies named Paola per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 75-year story
Paola first appears in the Social Security records in 1950, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 1,089 girls were named Paola — good for #302 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Paola against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Paola in class?
Paola scores 74 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Paola will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Paola is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paola is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Paolas were TX (39), CA (34), FL (31), NY (12), IL (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Paola
Statistically, parents drawn to Paola tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Perla, Keila, Kiera, Ayana, and Priscila.
PerlaKeilaKieraAyanaPriscilaShylaAlexaCiara
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Paola | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 178 | #1258 |
| 2024 | 230 | #1077 |
| 2023 | 231 | #1073 |
| 2022 | 269 | #984 |
| 2021 | 270 | #962 |
| 2020 | 268 | #953 |
| 2019 | 283 | #933 |
| 2018 | 275 | #960 |
| 2017 | 331 | #823 |
| 2016 | 338 | #842 |
| 2015 | 383 | #736 |
| 2014 | 418 | #680 |
| 2013 | 424 | #672 |
| 2012 | 507 | #579 |
| 2011 | 620 | #480 |
| 2010 | 680 | #454 |
| 2009 | 853 | #382 |
| 2008 | 954 | #350 |
| 2007 | 1,021 | #328 |
| 2006 | 1,089 | #302 |
| 2005 | 1,041 | #309 |
| 2004 | 936 | #342 |
| 2003 | 952 | #329 |
| 2002 | 1,000 | #310 |
| 2001 | 1,040 | #307 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Paola a popular girl name?
Paola ranked #1259 among girls in 2025 with 178 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #736.
When was the name Paola most popular?
Paola peaked in 2006, when 1,089 American girls received the name (ranked #302 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Paola?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,112 newborn American girls was named Paola. It scores 74/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.