Paula

Paula is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, the feminine form of Paulus, from the Latin paulus meaning "small" or "humble." Saint Paula of Rome, a 4th-century widow who followed Saint Jerome to Bethlehem, gave the name early Christian currency.

Paula ranked in the U.S. top 30 girls' names through the 1950s and 1960s. Paula Abdul's fame as a pop star and American Idol judge gives it a high-energy image, while Paula Deen and Paula Poundstone add Southern warmth and comedic sharpness. It's a direct, unfussy name with real staying power.