Pauline first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Pauline has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Pauline

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "little, humble".

Popularity of Pauline by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Pauline is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 63 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Pauline.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 63
2022 0 57
2021 0 49
2020 0 53
2019 0 50
2018 0 62
2017 0 60
2016 0 62
2015 0 78
2014 0 68
2013 0 64
2012 0 66
2011 0 67
2010 0 54
2009 0 56
2008 0 68
2007 0 95
2006 0 88
2005 0 114
2004 0 105
2003 0 150
2002 0 145
2001 0 128
2000 0 147
1999 0 147
1998 0 155
1997 0 201
1996 0 192
1995 0 212
1994 0 226
1993 0 260
1992 0 223
1991 0 296
1990 0 275
1989 0 266
1988 0 222
1987 0 212
1986 0 219
1985 0 238
1984 0 231
1983 0 254
1982 0 256
1981 0 298
1980 0 289
1979 0 273
1978 0 315
1977 0 292
1976 0 325
1975 0 340
1974 0 387

The history of the first name Pauline

The name Pauline has its origins in the Roman family name Paulinus, which itself is derived from the ancient Roman name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble". The name Paulus was quite common among the ancient Romans and is thought to have originated from the Latin root word "pauius", meaning "little".

The feminine form Paulina emerged during the Roman era, with early records indicating the name was used as far back as the 1st century AD. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Paulina of Rome, a Roman matron who lived during the reign of the emperor Tiberius in the early 1st century.

As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the name Paulina gained popularity among early Christians, likely due to its association with the apostle Paul, who played a pivotal role in the spread of the faith. The variant spelling Pauline emerged in the Middle Ages, becoming more common in Western Europe.

In the 4th century, Saint Pauline of Nola, a Roman noblewoman who became a nun and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, helped to further popularize the name. Another notable early bearer of the name was Pauline, the wife of the 5th-century Roman senator Praetextatus.

During the Middle Ages, the name Pauline was borne by several noblewomen and royalty, including Pauline of Aragon (1478-1508), a Spanish princess and the first wife of King Henry VIII of England. Pauline Bonaparte (1780-1825), the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, was another prominent figure who bore the name.

Other notable historical figures named Pauline include the 19th-century French novelist Pauline Viardot (1821-1910), the American actress Pauline Frederick (1883-1938), and the French fashion designer Pauline Trigère (1912-2002).

The name Pauline has maintained a consistent presence throughout history, with its roots firmly planted in ancient Roman culture and its enduring popularity among Christians and various European societies.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Pauline was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pauline, please contact us.

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"Pauline first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/pauline-meaning-and-history/.

"Pauline first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/pauline-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Pauline first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/pauline-meaning-and-history/.

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