Paulene
Feminine form of Paul, of Latin origin meaning "humble" or "little".
Name Census estimates that about 507 living Americans carry the first name Paulene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Paulene today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Paulene births was 1920 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Paulene. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Paulene is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Paulenes were born before 1968.
People living today
507
~ 1 in 676,044 Americans
Peak year
1920
40 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
2007 SSA rank
#19,792
Tracked since 1907
Popularity
Paulene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Paulene from the 1900s through to the 2000s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 308 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Paulene 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 Paulene during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Paulenes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Pennsylvania, Texas recorded the most babies named Paulene, while Ohio, Kentucky, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 8 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Paulene
Paulene is a feminine given name derived from the Latin name Paulina, which itself originates from the ancient Roman family name Paulinus. The name Paulinus is believed to have been derived from the Roman name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." The name Paulene gained popularity in the early Christian era, particularly in regions influenced by Roman culture.
The name Paulene can be traced back to the 3rd century AD, when it was mentioned in early Christian writings and records. One of the earliest known references is found in the accounts of Saint Paulina of Rome, a Roman noblewoman who lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century. Saint Paulina is revered for her charitable works and her efforts in preserving the relics of early Christian martyrs.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Paulene was primarily used in European countries with strong Christian traditions, such as Italy, France, and Spain. It was also found in regions influenced by the Byzantine Empire, where versions of the name like Pavlina or Pavlena were used.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Paulene de Milly was recorded as the mother of the famous French knight and crusader, Hugues de Payns, who founded the Knights Templar. Another historical reference is Paulene di Rosa, an Italian noblewoman from the 14th century who was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for Renaissance artists.
During the Renaissance period, the name Paulene gained further popularity, particularly in Italy. One notable figure was Paulene Ranieri Borghese (1580-1644), an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts who was known for her influential literary salon in Rome.
In the 17th century, Paulene de Grignan (1624-1689) was a French aristocrat and writer, best known for her correspondence with her mother, the famous author Madame de Sévigné.
Another notable bearer of the name was Paulene Viardot (1821-1910), a French mezzo-soprano and composer who was celebrated for her performances in operas by composers such as Meyerbeer and Berlioz.
While the name Paulene has been used throughout history, it is important to note that variations and spellings may have existed in different regions and time periods, reflecting local linguistic and cultural influences.
People
Paulene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Paulene 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
Paulene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Paulene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 507 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Paulene 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 676,044 US residents.
Is Paulene a common name?
We classify Paulene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,416 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Paulene most popular?
The single biggest year for Paulene was 1920, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Paulene is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Paulene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Paulene 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.