Declining since 2013, #9,457 for girls today.
Popularity of Pola since 1911
Babies named Pola per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 51 |
| 1920s | 147 |
| 1930s | 54 |
| 1940s | 68 |
| 1950s | 30 |
| 1960s | 44 |
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 20 |
| 2000s | 56 |
| 2010s | 129 |
| 2020s | 61 |
Meaning & origin
Pola is a name with a quiet history in the United States, first recorded in 1911. Its peak popularity occurred in 1926, likely influenced by the Polish-born actress Pola Negri, a major star of the silent film era. The name entered a long decline after the 1920s and has been falling since 2013. With a current rank of 9,457 and a rarity of 1 in 160,727 newborns in 2025, it remains a highly uncommon choice today. Despite its low usage, Pola retains a slim, elegant feel with clear European roots, and its simplicity fits well with modern short-name trends.
Pola is a diminutive or short form of Paula, the feminine form of Paulus, a Latin family name meaning 'small' or 'humble'. It also exists as a Polish name, derived from the same root. In Polish, Pola can be a standalone name or a diminutive of Apolonia or Paulina. It saw modest use in Poland and among Polish diaspora, but its peak in the United States was during the 1920s, likely influenced by silent film star Pola Negri.
“Pola” around the world
Where Pola lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Pola
Names that share Pola's style, for a brother or sister.
