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Paola as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Paola

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The baby name Paola is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced PAH-OH-lah (Italian: /ˈpa.ɔ.la/; Spanish: /ˈpa.o.la/; English: /ˈpeɪ.oʊ.lə/).

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Pronunciation: PAH-OH-lah (Italian: /ˈpa.ɔ.la/; Spanish: /ˈpa.o.la/; English: /ˈpeɪ.oʊ.lə/)

What is the meaning of the name Paola ?

The baby name Paola is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced PAH-OH-lah (Italian: /ˈpa.ɔ.la/; Spanish: /ˈpa.o.la/; English: /ˈpeɪ.oʊ.lə/).

Paola is in Origin.

Paola is the Italian and Spanish feminine form of Paolo/Paulus (Paul), from Latin paulus, meaning “small” or “humble.” It shares roots with a broad family of names: Paula (Spanish, Portuguese, English), Pauline and Paulina (French, English, Slavic), and Italian diminutives Paolina and Paoletta. Related international variants include French Paule and Polish Paulina; modern spellings like Paolla appear in Brazil.

Usage follows Christian tradition honoring St. Paula of Rome (Santa Paola), a 4th–5th‑century patron associated with St. Jerome, which anchored the name in late antiquity and medieval Italy. Paola has remained steady in Italy and spread widely across Spain and Latin America, seeing notable late‑20th‑century peaks. Queen Paola of Belgium helped lift its profile beyond the Mediterranean. Many Catholic communities mark the name day on 26 January. The name’s enduring appeal blends classical brevity with a gentle, modest meaning.

Paola has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Paola

Paola Cortellesi Actor · Born 1973 · Italy Paola Cortellesi is an Italian actress and comedian best known for her work in film and television. Born on 24 November 1973, she has also worked as a director, screenwriter, and producer, and has appeared in around 20 films as well as many theater, TV, and radio productions. Paola Núñez Actor · Born 1978 · Mexico Paola Núñez is a Mexican actress best known for playing Barbie in the TV Azteca telenovela Amor en Custodia. She is also known for her role as Evelyn Marcus in the Netflix series Resident Evil. Paola Rey Actor · Born 1983 · Colombia Paola Rey is a Colombian actress and model best known for her work in telenovelas. Born on December 19, 1979, in San Gil, Santander, Colombia, she is especially recognized for roles in Pasión de gavilanes, La mujer en el espejo, and Las muñecas de la mafia.
Paola Borboni Actor · Born 1900 · Italy Paola Borboni was an Italian actress best known for her long career on stage and in film, which lasted nearly 80 years. Born in 1900, she became one of Italy’s most enduring performers and remained active in cinema well into the late 20th century. Paola Pitagora Actor · Born 1941 · Italy Paola Pitagora is best known as an Italian film actress. Born on 24 August 1941, she has appeared in around 50 films since 1959. Paolla Oliveira Actor · Born 1982 · Brazil Paolla Oliveira is a Brazilian actress best known for her work in television and telenovelas. Born Caroline Paola Oliveira da Silva on 14 April 1982, she is especially known for roles in Insensato Coração, Amor à Vida, and A Força do Querer.

Celebrity babies named Paola

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Paola De Gasperi Alcide De Gasperi journalist ★★★★★
Paola Gassman Vittorio Gassman television actor ★★★★★
Paola Dominguín Lucia Bose model ★★★★★

Paola – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
CO Girls 0 #10 58,296 16,140
SV Girls 0 #10 9 458
SV 0 #11 1 283
IT Girls 0 #12 155,277 9,415
GT Girls 0 #16 2,507 7,500
HN 0 #16 7 704
HN Girls 0 #17 20 884
BO Girls 0 #18 5,624 9,488
CL Girls 0 #19 18,850 14,098
EC Girls 0 #21 525 3,650
HT Girls 0 #21 3 950
UY Girls 0 #23 4,490 6,731
CO 0 #24 3,894 7,768
IT 0 #29 9,592 4,183
AR Girls 0 #30 5,126 8,289
MX Girls 0 #30 23,460 17,781
PR Girls 0 #31 212 3,171
PA Girls 0 #33 1,486 9,861
PE Girls 0 #33 10,107 14,861
MD 0 #34 1 434
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
PR 0 #39 17 1,497
MX 0 #41 1,167 8,339
PE 0 #41 459 6,350
MT 0 #42 2 1,767
CR Girls 0 #45 1,870 11,342
CL 0 #47 1,523 6,867
GT 0 #49 471 5,948
PA 0 #50 87 3,797
CM 0 #51 6 2,592
EC 0 #51 68 2,502
UY 0 #51 165 2,477
BO 0 #54 688 6,868
CY 0 #55 6 1,632
LU 0 #59 8 2,830
AL 0 #62 14 2,372
AR 0 #63 154 2,915
JP 0 #73 5 4,057
CR 0 #76 85 5,526
BG 0 #79 4 1,799
CN 0 #83 4 3,857
RS 0 #84 1 923
MD Girls 0 #92 1 865
QA 0 #101 6 7,011
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
AL Girls 0 #105 147 4,141
CY Girls 0 #105 17 3,755
PH 0 #107 4 5,607
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
GR 0 #125 10 3,911
HR Girls 0 #126 279 3,687
Switzerland Girls 2024 #129 7 1,786
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
Spain Girls 0 #138 5,100 5,561
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
EE Girls 0 #142 1 1,888
MT Girls 0 #145 9 3,773
LU Girls 0 #146 40 4,850
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
HR 0 #158 22 2,081
SI Girls 0 #176 2 2,769
AE 0 #179 9 10,220
Sweden Girls 2021 #182 2 1,666
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
Spain 0 #187 361 2,326
GR Girls 0 #187 56 6,293
France Girls 2021 #194 255 3,185
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
BG Girls 0 #195 29 3,559
DK 0 #199 8 5,198
LT Girls 0 #199 2 1,904
AO Girls 0 #200 10 4,575
JP Girls 0 #200 46 6,592
PL 0 #208 5 2,600
BR Girls 0 #222 2,043 12,708
HU Girls 0 #223 3 3,308
PS 0 #224 3 5,692
BR 0 #225 125 5,969
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
PT 0 #237 10 4,161
EC Boys 0 #238 9 3,322
CM Girls 0 #247 377 11,671
AO Boys 0 #248 2 5,568
HR Boys 0 #255 5 3,997
MO Girls 0 #260 4 7,056
GR Boys 0 #272 2 6,912
NG 0 #272 1 5,926
Canada Girls 2023 #274 6 2,824
IL 0 #275 8 6,291
JM Girls 0 #275 4 7,507
SG 0 #279 4 11,010
TW Girls 0 #289 1 8,139
DK Girls 0 #295 22 7,429
AL Boys 0 #300 4 5,122
QA Girls 0 #302 15 15,378
SA 0 #311 2 10,560
PL Girls 0 #315 40 5,096
CN Girls 0 #326 24 8,829
CZ Girls 0 #331 11 5,378
MU Girls 0 #331 21 8,539
GH Girls 0 #336 2 6,973
JO Girls 0 #336 4 7,570
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
NL 0 #353 39 2,481
HK 0 #355 3 8,483
UY Boys 0 #362 38 5,922
PH Girls 0 #364 27 13,098
Finland Girls 0 #371 21 1,368
OM Girls 0 #376 21 15,987
AR Boys 0 #380 89 7,628
Austria Girls 0 #381 40 1,885
PT Boys 0 #381 1 7,951
PT Girls 0 #388 64 7,952
YE 0 #396 3 8,639
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
EG 0 #409 4 6,387
Germany 0 #411 27 2,542
CO Boys 0 #427 716 15,656
ZA 0 #431 17 14,421
GT Boys 0 #434 41 7,625
PA Boys 0 #453 29 9,305
CR Boys 0 #475 13 10,188
RU Girls 0 #482 17 11,913
KW Girls 0 #501 15 19,177
PS Girls 0 #513 11 10,981
IR Girls 0 #517 14 8,334
BO Boys 0 #520 73 9,244
IQ Girls 0 #520 6 11,303
CL Boys 0 #523 147 13,390
RU Boys 0 #525 2 12,621
AE Girls 0 #528 26 20,968
CM Boys 0 #532 19 12,054
BH 0 #543 11 17,937
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
SG Girls 0 #566 21 18,916
Germany Girls 0 #571 293 4,949
IL Girls 0 #593 25 11,648
HK Girls 0 #602 14 16,104
LB 0 #609 50 13,263
NL Girls 0 #613 359 5,933
Finland Girls 2026 #657 82 3,895
United States Girls 2024 #689 229 8,487
MX Boys 0 #696 297 16,355
SY 0 #711 18 11,684
BR Boys 0 #721 31 12,213
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
PE Boys 0 #757 122 14,506
TN 0 #795 35 13,765
KW Boys 0 #802 5 18,755
NG Girls 0 #820 7 15,093
IT Boys 0 #846 684 10,046
United States Boys 2007 #865 7 7,493
OM Boys 0 #871 11 17,948
Spain Boys 0 #886 45 5,610
SA Girls 0 #921 15 25,931
EG Boys 0 #923 3 15,035
EG Girls 0 #929 31 14,742
MY Girls 0 #1,072 1 24,821
ZA Girls 0 #1,076 66 25,928
MA 0 #1,091 38 20,986
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
DZ 0 #1,149 28 20,130
TR 0 #1,198 14 19,440
ZA Boys 0 #1,271 2 25,619

Paola is popular in 83 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
United States
Switzerland
Sweden

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Paola

Paola is predominantly a girl's name.
Paola is a 3 syllable name, pronounced PAH-OH-lah (Italian: /ˈpa.ɔ.la/; Spanish: /ˈpa.o.la/; English: /ˈpeɪ.oʊ.lə/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Paula, Paolina, Paulina, Paulette, Paolita and Paulita.
Yes — Paola ranked #129 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Paola ranks highest in Switzerland (#129 in 2024).
Paola's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #233 in 2011 to #194 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 6 notable people named Paola are in our database, including Paola Cortellesi (Actor), Paola Núñez (Actor), Paola Rey (Actor).
Yes — at least 3 celebrity couples have chosen Paola for their child, including Alcide De Gasperi.