Paulette
Paulette was the 1536th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 138 babies. Its best year was 1946, when it ranked 117th; the most babies were born in 1948 (2,579). Over the last ten years it has moved up 518 places. More babies were named Paulette in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Meaning feminine of Paul; "small" · French, Latin
Say it paw-LET /pɔˈlɛt/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,536 girls, up 128 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 138girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19482,579 babies
- Total since 1880
- 47,152babies recorded
What does the name Paulette mean?
Paulette is a French feminine diminutive of Paul, borrowed into English in the 20th century. Paul comes from the Latin paulus, "small, little", a Roman family name made famous by the apostle Paul. DMNES records feminine forms of Paul such as Paula, Pauline and the French Polette in the 16th century. Paulette was most popular in the US in the 1940s.
paulus (Latin, “small, little”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Paula, Pauline, Paul, Polly.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Paulette', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Paul', DMNES (Durham University)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Paula', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Paulette (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Paulette popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 65 since 1941.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,536 | 138 |
| 2020 | #1,664 | 124 |
| 2010 | #1,573 | 140 |
| 2000 | #3,155 | 44 |
| 1990 | #1,419 | 112 |
| 1980 | #953 | 156 |
| 1970 | #328 | 805 |
| 1960 | #322 | 854 |
| 1950 | #151 | 1,953 |
| 1940 | #452 | 223 |
| 1930 | #1,650 | 24 |
| 1920 | #1,619 | 27 |
| 1910 | #2,348 | 6 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Paulette, counting every spelling?
Paulette is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,322 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,536 for Paulette on its own. Together these spellings went to 153 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paulette | 138 | #1,536 | 690 |
| Paulett | 15 | #7,406 | 35 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Paulette?
138 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Paulette (0.04 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Paulette born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 61 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Paulette.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Paulette?
About 35,400 people born in the US named Paulette are alive today, with a median age of 71; half are between 59 and 77. That makes Paulette a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Paulette by state
How common Paulette was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arizona (4.7×), Texas (2.4×), California (2.0×). In 40 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Paulette: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Paulette, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Paulette · Sibling names for Paulette
Questions about the name Paulette
What does Paulette mean?
Paulette means “feminine of Paul; "small"” (French, Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Paulette?
Paulette was the 1536th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 138 babies. Its best year was 1946, when it ranked 117th; the most babies were born in 1948 (2,579). Over the last ten years it has moved up 518 places. More babies were named Paulette in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Is Paulette a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Paulette in the US.
Where is Paulette most popular?
In 2021–2025, Paulette was most common in Arizona (0.40 per 1,000 girls), followed by Texas and California.