The namePaul
Paul is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "small, humble". The name of the apostle Paul, it is a timeless classic in every Christian language.
- Boy's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Paul comes from the Latin Paulus, "small, humble".
Origin
Latin. Saul of Tarsus took the name Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus and became the apostle of the nations; his letters form a large part of the New Testament.
History
Six popes bore the name, among them Paul VI and John Paul II. Paul McCartney is a famous bearer. It was in the American top 20 for much of the 20th century.
Paul in other languages
Paul is spelled the same in English, French and German. It is Paolo in Italian, Pablo in Spanish, Paulo in Portuguese, Pau in Catalan, Paweł in Polish, Pavel in Czech and Russian, and Pál in Hungarian.
Nicknames for Paul
The most common nicknames for Paul: Paulie.
Did you know?
- Before taking the name Paul, the apostle was called Saul and persecuted the first Christians.
- Paul McCartney wrote Yesterday, one of the most covered songs in history.
- In Austria, Paul has been the most popular boys' name several times, including every year from 2017 to 2019.
Famous people named Paul
- Saint Paul the Apostle
- Paul McCartney, musician
- Paul Newman, actor
- Paul Cézanne, painter
Popularity of the name Paul
Paul in the United States
Paul was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 253,807 births over the decade, 18% of all recorded babies named Paul. Its rise began around 1912, and it peaked in 1957. Half of all babies named Paul in the United States were born before 1956, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,359 births a year on average, against 1,763 in the five years before.
Paul in the United Kingdom
Paul was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 5,010 births over the decade, 46% of all recorded babies named Paul. Half of all babies named Paul in the United Kingdom were born before 2003. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 98 births a year on average, against 171 in the five years before.
Paul in Ireland
Paul in France
Paul in Belgium
Paul in Switzerland
Paul in Austria
Paul in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Paul
Names from the same generation as Paul, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Paul? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Paul with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Paul side by side with the name of your choice.
Paul in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paul mean?
Paul comes from the Latin Paulus, "small, humble".
What is the origin of the name Paul?
Latin. Saul of Tarsus took the name Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus and became the apostle of the nations; his letters form a large part of the New Testament.
Is Paul a girl's or a boy's name?
Paul is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Paul?
In 2024, Paul was the 263rd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,320 births.
What are the variants of the name Paul?
Variants and related names of Paul include Marie-Paule, Pål, Paola, Paolo, Paulette and Pol.
What are good sibling names for Paul?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Veronica, Priscilla, Julia and Diana for a sister, Francisco, Mark, Marco and Marcus for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Paul?
The most common nicknames for Paul are Paulie.
Who are famous people named Paul?
Saint Paul the Apostle; Paul McCartney, musician; Paul Newman, actor; Paul Cézanne, painter.