Paulina is the feminine form of the Roman family name Paulinus, derived from Paulus and meaning "small" or "humble". It is popular across Spanish-, Polish- and German-speaking countries and was carried by several Roman noblewomen. In the United States Paulina peaked at number 366 in 2002 and has held a quiet spot in the 700s and 800s for a decade, ranking number 784 in 2025.