The name Paola is of Italian origin and means "small" or "young". It is a feminine name derived from the Latin word 'paulus', which also means "small". The name has been popular in Italy for centuries, but it gained international recognition in recent decades due to its use by famous personalities such as Paola Cortese, an Italian actress, and Paola Egonu, an Italian volleyball player.
Paola is typically pronounced /pao-la/ with the stress on the first syllable. It has several spelling variations, including Paoletta and Paolaella in Italy, and Pawla in Polish. Although it is mainly used as a given name, there are some instances where Paola has been used as a surname in Italian-speaking regions.
The name Paola does not have any specific associated holidays or feast days. However, in the Catholic Church, Saint Paula was a 4th-century Christian who was martyred along with her husband, Saint Barbara. Although they are commemorated together on December 4th, this is not specifically tied to the name Paola.
In literature and popular culture, some notable figures named Paola include:
* Paola, a character in John Steinbeck's novel "Sweet Thursday"
* Paola, a child prodigy musician in the film "Whale Rider"
* Paola, a main character in the Italian television series "La Squadra"
Overall, the name Paola is a charming and distinctive feminine name with an appealing meaning. Its popularity has grown in recent years, particularly among parents seeking unique yet meaningful names for their daughters.
The name Paola has been given to a total of 148 babies born in the United States between 1984 and 2007, according to the statistics provided.
During this period, there were variations in the number of births with the name Paola each year. The name was most popular in 1995, with 13 births recorded that year. There were also years where the name was less common, such as in 1984 and 1992, with only 6 and 5 births respectively.
Overall, the statistics show that the name Paola has been consistently used over this span of time, but its popularity has fluctuated from year to year. Despite these variations, the total number of babies named Paola during this period indicates that it is a name that has been chosen by many parents for their daughters in the United States during this time frame.