Paulita as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Paulita

What is the meaning of the name Paulita ?

The baby name Paulita is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced paw-LEE-tah (Spanish: /pawˈlita/).

Paulita is Spanish in Origin.

Paulita is a Spanish affectionate diminutive of Paula or Paulina, ultimately rooted in the Latin cognomen Paulus, meaning “small” or “humble.” The -ita ending signals endearment and youthfulness, so Paulita carries the sense “little Paula.” Though often a pet name within families, it has long stood on its own as a formal given name in Spanish-speaking countries and in the Philippines.

Records from colonial Latin America and the 19th‑century U.S. Southwest attest to its use; one well-known bearer was Paulita Maxwell of New Mexico, linked in regional lore to Billy the Kid. Cognate and related forms include Paula, Paulina, Paola (Italian/Spanish), Pauline (French/English), Paulette (French), and Pauletta or Paoletta (Italian), with Slavic Pavlina also sharing the same Latin root. Informal short forms may include Pau and Lita. Today Paulita offers a vintage, gently intimate alternative within the broader Paul/Paula family.