Paulina
Girl name · #783 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Paulina? In official American birth records, Paulina has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Paulina is currently the #783 girl name in the United States — 346 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #880, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,202 girls born in 2025 was named Paulina.
The 145-year story
Paulina first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2002, when 822 girls were named Paulina — good for #365 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.
Babies named Paulina per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Paulina against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Paulina in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Paulina is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Paulina will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Paulina is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paulina is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Paulina is most common in AZ (0.6 per 1,000), TX (0.5 per 1,000), FL (0.4 per 1,000), CA (0.4 per 1,000), IL (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Paulina is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Paulina
Statistically, parents drawn to Paulina tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Karina, Melina, Carolina, Katerina, and Marina.
KarinaMelinaCarolinaKaterinaMarinaKarolinaCelinaRaina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Paulina | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 346 | #783 |
| 2024 | 361 | #782 |
| 2023 | 364 | #773 |
| 2022 | 356 | #793 |
| 2021 | 355 | #797 |
| 2020 | 329 | #830 |
| 2019 | 328 | #828 |
| 2018 | 292 | #918 |
| 2017 | 311 | #880 |
| 2016 | 368 | #773 |
| 2015 | 315 | #880 |
| 2014 | 280 | #956 |
| 2013 | 323 | #828 |
| 2012 | 321 | #834 |
| 2011 | 361 | #763 |
| 2010 | 390 | #722 |
| 2009 | 469 | #636 |
| 2008 | 531 | #580 |
| 2007 | 657 | #493 |
| 2006 | 607 | #503 |
| 2005 | 791 | #397 |
| 2004 | 738 | #414 |
| 2003 | 725 | #417 |
| 2002 | 822 | #365 |
| 2001 | 648 | #428 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Paulina?
In official American birth records, the name Paulina first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 10 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Paulina a popular girl name?
Paulina ranked #783 among girls in 2025 with 346 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #880.
When was the name Paulina most popular?
Paulina peaked in 2002, when 822 American girls received the name (ranked #365 that year). Since 2002 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Paulina?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,202 newborn American girls was named Paulina. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.