Paola is the Italian and Spanish form of Paula — from the Latin paulus ("small, humble"). A top-500 US baby name since 1990. Queen Paola of Belgium (born Paola Ruffo di Calabria, 1937) — Italian-born Queen consort of Belgium from 1993 to 2013 as wife of King Albert II; one of the most-fashion-influential European royals of the late 20th century, often photographed by Vogue and Harper's Bazaar; founded the Queen Paola Foundation supporting children in distress; her son Philippe is the current King of the Belgians (2013-present). Paola Espinosa (born 1986) — Mexican Olympic diver; silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics (10m synchronized platform); five Olympic appearances. Paola Antonelli (born 1963) — Italian curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York since 1994; Time 100 Most Influential (2022). Paola Cortellesi (born 1973) — Italian actress and director; There's Still Tomorrow (C'è ancora domani, 2023) — her directorial debut became the highest-grossing Italian film of 2023 and was the most-viewed film at the Rome Film Festival. Paola Egonu (born 1998) — Italian volleyball player; one of the world's top women's volleyball players. Saint Paola of Rome (347-404) — Roman noblewoman and scholar; companion of Saint Jerome in translating the Vulgate Bible; her feast is celebrated January 26.
Featured throughout Italian/Belgian royalty and modern arts.
In Pythagorean numerology the letters of Paola reduce to 9, The Giver. This is a traditional interpretive system, not a factual claim about the name.