Paola
PAH-oh-lah · 3 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Latin / Italian ◈ 3 syllables
"Small, humble, modest one"

From Latin / Italian

Paola means small or humble — the Italian/Spanish feminine of Paolo/Paul. Queen Paola of Belgium reigned for 20 years. The name carries Apostle Paul's humility through Italian-vowel warmth. Three syllables of Latin humility, Belgian-queen elegance, and the most Italian version of the most important apostle's name.

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Paola at a glance
MeaningSmall, humble, modest one
OriginLatin / Italian
GenderFemale
Syllables3
NumerologyLife Path 9
US Rank (today)#936
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Why parents love Paola
  • Queen Paola of Belgium reigned for 20 years.
  • The Italian form is the most elegantly vowelled.
  • Three syllables with a warm, Italian sound: pow-OH-lah.
  • The meaning small/humble carries Apostle Paul heritage.
  • The Italian-Spanish heritage gives genuine depth.
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The vibe of Paola
smallhumbleItalianSpanishPaoloPaulQueen PaolaBelgiumapostle
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Origin & history of Paola
Latin paulus (small/humble) → Italian Paolo → feminine Paola
1
Latin / Italian roots
Paola is the Italian/Spanish feminine of Paolo/Paul meaning small or humble. Queen Paola of Belgium reigned for 20 years. The name carries Apostle Paul's heritage through Italian warmth.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Italian/Spanish form; Queen Paola of Belgium (born 1937).
3
Today
Paola remains a beloved choice, ranking #936 in the US. 24,462 babies have been named Paola since 1950.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
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How popular is Paola?
2006 peak year
The name Paola reached its peak in 2006, with 1,089 registrations (ranked #302). It had been quietly building for over half a century before that, first appearing in records in 1950. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #936 today, averaging about 288 new babies per year. Paola has been declining in recent years. Across all years on record, approximately 24,462 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,089 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #302)
288 Avg. per year
(last decade)
2,880 Total registrations
last 10 years
24,462 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #936) Popular
↓ Declining in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
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Numerology of Paola
9
Life path number
The Humanitarian
Compassion, wisdom and humanitarianism.

Paola's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — humbly nurturing. People named Paola tend to be warm, queenly, and gifted at being the most Italian form of the most important apostle.

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Most Italian apostle
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Belgian-queen elegant
◈
Paolo-feminine
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Humble warmth
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20-year reign
P7
A1
O6
L3
A1
Sum: 18 → Life path 9
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Personality of Paola
🌍
Compassionate soul
They carry the weight of the world with grace.
🎨
Richly creative
Deep feeling translates into deep art.
🌟
Old soul wisdom
They've always seemed wiser than their years.
💝
Unconditional love
Their love is vast and forgiving.
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Famous people named Paola

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Names that sound like Paola

If you love Paola, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.

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Names that combine with Paola

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Paola.

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Middle names for Paola

The right middle name turns Paola into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Paola is a beautiful choice.
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