Paula Ivan (born 20 July 1963 as Ionescu, later known as Ilie) is a retired Romanian middle-distance runner.

Born in Herăști, Giurgiu County, she graduated from the Gheorghe Șincai High School in Bucharest in 1982.

She repeated her 1500/3000 m golden double at the Universiade in Duisburg in August and then won the 1500 m at the IAAF World Cup in Barcelona in September.

At the 1985 championships, she was part of the Romanian team that won the bronze medal (Ivan finished 34th).

Since 2002, she works at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Spiru Haret University in Bucharest.