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The first name Pauline

A girl’s name from Latin.

Pronounced /pɔˈlin/ 2 syllables Female

Meaning and origin

Latin origin

From French Pauline, in turn from Latin Paulīna; in regular use since the 19th century. By surface analysis, Paul + -ine (feminine suffix).

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 5 girls were named Pauline, making it the 4,201st most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1998, with 19 births (#1,076).

01020 1996200020052010201520202025
243
babies named Pauline, 1996–2025
#4,201
rank in 2025
1998
peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Pauline with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Pauline at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 56 girls born in the United States were named Pauline, the 2,986th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 7,222 were.

04,0008,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
227,179
babies named Pauline since 1880
#2,986
rank in 2025
1918
peak year

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Pauline in other languages

Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

Павли́на
Pavlína
Bulgarian, also Поли́на
Pavlína
Czech
Pauliina
Finnish
Παυλίνα
Pavlína
Greek, also Πωλίνα
Paulina
Polish
Paulina
Portuguese, also Pauline
Поли́на
Polína
Russian, also Павли́на
Paulina
Spanish
Paulina
Swedish
Павлі́на
Pavlína
Ukrainian, also Павли́на, Полі́на

Spelled Pauline in Danish, French and German too.

Famous people named Pauline

94 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Pauline Bonaparte
    French princess, 1780–1825
  • Pauline Kael
    American film critic (1919-2001)
  • Pauline Viardot
    French mezzo-soprano and composer, 1821–1910
  • Pauline Collins
    British actress (1940–2025)
  • Pauline Ferrand-Prévot
    French bicycle racer (born 1992)
  • Pauline Parmentier
    French tennis player, born 1986
  • Pauline Hanson
    Australian politician (born 1954)
  • Pauline Marois
    30th Premier of Quebec (2012–2014)
  • Pauline Davis-Thompson
    Bahamian sprinter, born 1966
  • Pauline Johnson
    Canadian poet and performer (1861–1913)
  • Pauline Frederick
    American actress (1883–1938)
  • Pauline Betz
    American tennis player (1919–2011)

More Latin girls’ names

Questions

What does the name Pauline mean?
From French Pauline, in turn from Latin Paulīna; in regular use since the 19th century. By surface analysis, Paul + -ine (feminine suffix).
What is the origin of the name Pauline?
From French Pauline, in turn from Latin Paulīna; in regular use since the 19th century. By surface analysis, Paul + -ine (feminine suffix).
How popular is the name Pauline?
In 2025, 5 girls born in England and Wales were named Pauline, ranking 4,201st. Its peak was 1998, with 19 births.
Is Pauline a boy's or a girl's name?
Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 227,179 US babies named Pauline since 1880 were girls.
When was Pauline most popular?
1918 in the United States, when 7,222 babies were named Pauline, its highest rank at 35th.
How do you pronounce Pauline?
Pauline is /pɔˈlin/, 2 syllables.