Fun Facts About the Name Polina
- More than 1 thousand babies named Polina: U.S. records list 1,334 babies given the name Polina from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Polina Mean?
Polina is a feminine name used mainly in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Greece. It is usually explained as a Slavic form of Pauline (Latin Paulina), the feminine of Paul, which comes from the old Roman family name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble."
A second, traditional explanation connects Polina to the Russian church name Apollinariya, from Greek Apollinarios, a name built on the god's name Apollon. Polina served as the everyday spoken form of Apollinariya, so the two became linked. The meaning of Apollon itself is not securely known, so this line of derivation gives no clear translation, and it is a different origin from the Latin one above. The two explanations exist side by side, and which one stands behind a particular use of the name is not always settled.
Polina Name History & Origins
Polina entered Russian use largely through French Pauline, the form of Paulina that was widespread in European naming from the 17th century onward. French language and manners carried strong prestige among the Russian nobility in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and Polina belongs to that layer of borrowed names.
A separate Russian tradition ties the name to the church name Apollinariya, of Greek origin, which was given at baptism. Because Polina was the familiar spoken form of Apollinariya, Russian usage linked the two, and it is often unclear whether Polina in a given case stood for Apollinariya or was simply the name Pauline. Both derivations are still current.
The name is now common in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Greece, and among Russian-speaking communities elsewhere. Usual Russian short forms include Polya, Polinka, and Lina.
How Popular is the Name Polina?
Polina has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2017. Its best rank was #2,458 in 2017.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,284 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2024 | #3,310 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2023 | #3,213 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 2022 | #3,112 | 53 | 0.0032% |
| 2021 | #2,912 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 2020 | #3,723 | 40 | 0.0025% |
| 2019 | #3,076 | 53 | 0.0032% |
| 2018 | #2,895 | 58 | 0.0034% |
| 2017 | #2,458 | 74 | 0.0043% |
| 2016 | #2,498 | 73 | 0.0041% |
| 2015 | #2,675 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 2014 | #3,216 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2013 | #2,757 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 2012 | #2,704 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 2011 | #3,165 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 2010 | #3,399 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 2009 | #3,501 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 2008 | #4,155 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2007 | #3,586 | 46 | 0.0024% |
| 2006 | #3,975 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2005 | #4,096 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 2004 | #4,462 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2003 | #4,182 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2002 | #5,049 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2001 | #5,136 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #5,109 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #4,836 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1998 | #6,299 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #8,852 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #9,373 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #5,621 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #15,115 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #14,903 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,991 | 8 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Polina Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Polina's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Polina's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.