Meaning & History
Paulien is a Dutch feminine given name, the local form of Paulino, derived from the Latin family name Paulinus, itself ultimately from Paulus meaning "small" or "humble." The name entered the Christian tradition through Saint Paulinus of Nola and Saint Paulinus of York, and over time developed into numerous euramerican variants.
Etymology and History
The root of Paulien lies in the Roman family name Paulinus, first borne by patrician families of the gens Aemilia and others. As Christianity spread, the name was adopted in honor of several early saints. In Dutch, Paulien emerged as a typical diminutive, parallel to the French Pauline, and became an independent given name by the 19th century. In the Netherlands it was especially common among Catholic families due to the veneration of saints.
Notable Bearers
Paulien has been born by several contemporary women in the Netherlands:
• Paulien Cornelisse (born 1976), Dutch writer, columnist and cabaret performer
• Paulien van Deutekom (1981–2019), long-track speed skater and World Cup champion
• Paulien Hogeweg (born 1943), theoretical biologist known for computational models of evolution
• Paulien Mathues (born 1994), Flemish singer performing as Paulien
Related Forms
The name is a cognate of Paulina (used in Polish, Spanish, German, etc.), and shares variants across Europe: Palina (Belarusian), Pavlina (Slovene), Polina (Ukrainian), Poli (Bulgarian diminutive), and Polya (another Bulgarian form). The Dutch diminutive Lien is also related.
- Meaning: Female form of Paulinus, originally Roman family name
- Origin: Given name – Biblical & Latin origin; Roman; Dutch
- Usage: Dutch
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Paulien