Pamula
A feminine given name of unknown origin, potentially derived from Greek.
Name Census estimates that about 546 living Americans carry the first name Pamula. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pamula today is around 63 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pamula births was 1962 (39 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pamula. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
546
~ 1 in 627,755 Americans
Peak year
1962
39 babies that year
Average age
63
years old
1981 SSA rank
#7,920
Tracked since 1945
Popularity
Pamula: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pamula from the 1940s through to the 1980s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 295 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pamula by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Pamula during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Pamulas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Ohio, Louisiana, Texas recorded the most babies named Pamula, while Texas, Louisiana, Ohio recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Pamula
The given name Pamula has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, believed to have emerged around the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "pamula," which translates to "lotus flower" or "pink lotus." The lotus flower held significant symbolism in ancient Indian culture, representing purity, enlightenment, and spiritual awakening.
In Hinduism, the lotus is a revered symbol associated with several deities, including Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Brahma, the creator god. The name Pamula may have been bestowed upon children as a way of invoking these auspicious qualities or as a symbolic representation of the divine.
Historically, the earliest recorded instances of the name Pamula can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, where it was mentioned as a feminine name. However, it is important to note that the spelling and pronunciation may have varied across different regions and time periods.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Pamula was a 7th-century Indian scholar and poet from the kingdom of Kamarupa (present-day Assam, India). Her literary works, though not widely preserved, were celebrated for their depth and eloquence during her lifetime.
Another prominent individual named Pamula was a 10th-century Buddhist nun and teacher from the Pala Empire in ancient Bengal (present-day Bangladesh and parts of India). She was renowned for her wisdom and contributions to the spread of Buddhist teachings throughout the region.
In the 14th century, Pamula was the name of a renowned female Sanskrit scholar and poet from the Vijayanagara Empire in southern India. Her works, though largely lost to time, were praised for their lyrical beauty and profound insights.
During the 16th century, Pamula was the name of a respected court musician and dancer in the royal court of the Mughal Empire in India. Her artistic talents were highly regarded, and she was known for her graceful performances.
Lastly, in the 18th century, Pamula was the name of a revered Hindu mystic and spiritual teacher from the Nath tradition in northern India. Her teachings and writings on yoga, meditation, and self-realization were widely studied and followed by seekers of spiritual enlightenment.
These examples illustrate the historical significance and usage of the name Pamula across different regions, religions, and eras in ancient and medieval India, where it held cultural and spiritual connotations tied to its Sanskrit origins.
People
Pamula + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pamula as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Pamula: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pamula?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 546 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pamula going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 627,755 US residents.
Is Pamula a common name?
We classify Pamula as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 696 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pamula most popular?
The single biggest year for Pamula was 1962, when 39 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pamula is about 63 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pamula a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pamula in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.