Paula is of Latin origin, derived from 'Paulus,' which means 'small' or 'humble.' It's a feminine variant of the male name Paul. This name gained popularity during the Middle Ages in Europe and has since been widely used around the world.
"Paula has seen a significant drop in popularity since the mid-20th century. Peak years were 1943 (17 births) and 1956 (22 births). After 1980, it fell out of the top 1000 names, with fewer than 10 Paula's born annually since then."