Entry № 1892 · French, Latin origin

Pauline Pauline — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ paw-LEEN /
Gender
Girl
Origin
French, Latin
Meaning
"Small (Pauline Kael, film critic; Pauline Viardot)"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Medieval (French)

A name that means "small (pauline kael, film critic; pauline viardot)".

Pauline is the French feminine of Paul — from the Latin paulus ("small, humble"). **Pauline Kael (1919-2001)** — **American film critic at *The New Yorker* (1968-1991) who transformed film criticism into a popular art form; her conversational reviews, championing of New Hollywood directors, and pugnacious style influenced generations of critics**. **National Book Award for *Deeper Into Movies* (1973)**. **Pauline Viardot (1821-1910)** — French mezzo-soprano of the Romantic era; collaborator with Brahms, Berlioz, and Saint-Saëns. **Pauline Bonaparte (1780-1825)** — Napoleon's sister; **Antonio Canova's nude marble *Pauline Borghese as Venus Victrix* (1804-1808) is among the most-visited sculptures at the Galleria Borghese in Rome**. **A top-50 US baby name from 1880 to 1929**.

Subject of Brian Kellow's *Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark* (2011).

Small. Pauline Kael transformed film criticism at The New Yorker; Canova's Pauline Borghese as Venus.

The name in its native script.

Pauline
Transliteration
Pauline
Pronunciation
/ pɔːˈliːn /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Pauline stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 25 in 1885
Babies named Pauline · last year
130 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · #25 NOW · —

Paulines before her.

Real people
Pauline Kael
American film critic.
1919 – 2001
Pauline Viardot
French mezzo-soprano.
1821 – 1910
Pauline Bonaparte
Napoleon's sister.
1780 – 1825
In fiction
Pauline
Balzac's La Peau de chagrin.
1831

Names connected to Pauline.

The number behind Pauline.

6

The Nurturer

Pauline reduces to six — the number of small.

Why families chose this name.

"Kael's small. Seven letters. Pauline."
Catherine · Mother of one · Manhattan