Paul Name Meaning

The name Paul has its roots in Latin and means “small” or “humble”.

The Origins of Paul

In the New Testament, Saint Paul was a Christian apostle who was originally known as Saul. He was a highly influential figure in early Christianity and is credited with spreading the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. It’s likely that the name became popular as a result of its association with Saint Paul.

Popularity of the Name Paul

In the Middle Ages, the name Paul was widely used throughout Europe, particularly in France, where it was a popular name for monarchs and nobles. During the Renaissance, the popularity of the name Paul declined, but it remained in use among the upper classes.

The name Paul saw a resurgence in popularity in the 19th century, and it has remained one of the most popular names for boys ever since. In the 20th century, the name Paul became a popular choice for parents in the United States and the United Kingdom, and it continues to be a popular choice for parents today.

Famous Pauls

Throughout history, there have been many famous people named Paul, including musicians, politicians, and religious figures. Some of the most well-known people named Paul include:

  • Paul McCartney: One of the most famous musicians of all time, Paul McCartney is a singer, songwriter, and former member of The Beatles.
  • Saint Paul: As mentioned earlier, Saint Paul was a Christian apostle and a highly influential figure in early Christianity.
  • Paul Bunyan: A folk hero in American folklore, Paul Bunyan is a lumberjack who is said to have cleared vast forests and created many of the natural wonders of the United States.
  • Paul Klee: A Swiss-German painter and printmaker, Paul Klee was a leading member of the Expressionist movement and is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century.
  • Paul Rand: An American graphic designer, Paul Rand was a pioneer in the field of advertising and is widely regarded as one of the greatest graphic designers of all time.

Today, the name Paul continues to be a popular choice for parents all over the world. It’s a timeless name that has stood the test of time, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you’re looking for a classic, traditional name for your son or simply want to pay homage to one of the many famous people named Paul, this is a name that’s sure to stand the test of time.

Final Thoughts on the Name Paul

In conclusion, the name Paul has a rich history that spans centuries and continents. It’s a name that has been associated with greatness and success, and it continues to be a popular choice for parents all over the world. So whether you’re a fan of Saint Paul, Paul McCartney, or any of the other famous people named Paul, there’s no denying that this is a name that will always hold a special place in history.

Infographic of Paul name meaning, which is Meaning small, Paul is a name of Latin origins.
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Paul Name Popularity

How popular is the name Paul? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 15 1,998 0.5675%
1911 17 2,384 0.6402%
1912 14 4,777 0.9473%
1913 14 5,962 1.0515%
1914 13 7,732 1.1095%
1915 13 10,328 1.1368%
1916 12 10,787 1.1167%
1917 13 11,155 1.115%
1918 14 11,751 1.0949%
1919 15 11,300 1.0791%
1920 14 12,565 1.1301%
1921 14 13,164 1.1496%
1922 14 12,922 1.1599%
1923 14 13,359 1.1927%
1924 14 13,339 1.1487%
1925 13 14,170 1.2537%
1926 13 13,652 1.2412%
1927 13 13,605 1.2291%
1928 13 13,158 1.2298%
1929 13 12,429 1.1999%
1930 12 12,956 1.2403%
1931 12 12,250 1.2412%
1932 13 12,069 1.2216%
1933 14 11,848 1.2717%
1934 14 12,197 1.2617%
1935 14 12,558 1.2923%
1936 15 12,305 1.2774%
1937 15 12,874 1.3065%
1938 15 13,354 1.3044%
1939 17 13,331 1.3106%
1940 17 14,101 1.3267%
1941 18 15,162 1.3471%
1942 19 16,486 1.3055%
1943 19 17,251 1.3214%
1944 17 16,653 1.3437%
1945 17 16,993 1.3934%
1946 18 21,055 1.4269%
1947 18 22,795 1.3656%
1948 18 21,246 1.3309%
1949 17 21,588 1.342%
1950 18 21,757 1.3513%
1951 18 22,851 1.3477%
1952 19 24,300 1.3921%
1953 17 25,491 1.4403%
1954 16 26,220 1.4343%
1955 16 26,678 1.4504%
1956 17 26,873 1.4228%
1957 18 26,983 1.4022%
1958 15 26,247 1.3888%
1959 17 25,694 1.3524%
1960 18 25,639 1.3532%
1961 18 25,623 1.3572%
1962 19 23,803 1.2965%
1963 17 26,678 1.4862%
1964 16 26,885 1.5274%
1965 16 24,926 1.5242%
1966 18 23,581 1.5103%
1967 18 22,842 1.5052%
1968 19 21,872 1.4566%
1969 22 20,698 1.3435%
1970 23 20,209 1.2699%
1971 24 17,477 1.1631%
1972 24 14,565 1.0694%
1973 24 12,906 0.9955%
1974 27 12,320 0.9479%
1975 29 12,017 0.9352%
1976 28 11,787 0.9145%
1977 31 11,807 0.8759%
1978 33 11,739 0.8731%
1979 34 11,646 0.8259%
1980 35 11,826 0.8088%
1981 35 11,779 0.8013%
1982 35 11,306 0.7566%
1983 39 10,827 0.7337%
1984 40 10,458 0.703%
1985 42 10,312 0.6794%
1986 45 9,709 0.6432%
1987 46 9,700 0.6356%
1988 46 9,428 0.605%
1989 49 9,029 0.5595%
1990 49 8,579 0.5176%
1991 53 7,677 0.471%
1992 55 6,999 0.4385%
1993 56 6,479 0.4156%
1994 64 5,798 0.3778%
1995 71 5,413 0.3592%
1996 78 4,879 0.3259%
1997 79 4,749 0.3211%
1998 89 4,319 0.2886%
1999 94 4,017 0.2682%
2000 100 3,787 0.2479%
2001 109 3,506 0.2327%
2002 118 3,257 0.2173%
2003 123 3,250 0.2136%
2004 127 3,178 0.2085%
2005 130 3,128 0.2046%
2006 132 3,014 0.1925%
2007 147 2,756 0.1747%
2008 154 2,546 0.1647%
2009 160 2,411 0.1613%
2010 178 2,114 0.1467%
2011 186 2,061 0.1447%
2012 190 1,936 0.1359%
2013 197 2,023 0.1421%
2014 199 1,993 0.1368%
2015 197 2,015 0.1385%
2016 205 1,924 0.1334%
2017 223 1,675 0.12%
2018 231 1,611 0.1173%
2019 243 1,474 0.1089%
2020 251 1,346 0.1057%
2021 257 1,346 0.1101%
2022 262 1,297 0.0983%

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Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Paul

If you like Paul, you’ll love these other names like Paul.


What names are variants of Paul?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Paul.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Havel

Small

Latin

Paavo

Small

Latin

Pablo

A Spanish equivalent of Paul.

Spanish

Pal

Small

Latin

Paolo

Small

Latin

Pasha

Small

Latin

Pauel

Small

Latin

Pauli

Small

Latin

Paulie

Small

Latin

Paulin

Small

Latin

Paulino

Small

Latin

Paulinus

Small

Latin

Paulo

Small

Latin

Paulos

Small

Latin

Paulson

Little. Son of Paul. Surname.

English

Paulus

Small

Latin

Pauly

Small

Latin

Pavel

Small

Latin

Pavle

Small

Latin

Pawel

Small

Latin

Pol

Small

Latin

Poll

Small

Latin

Poul

Small

Latin


What names sound like Paul?

If you like how Paul sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Paul.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Bail

Berry clearing; bailiff; city fortification; valley

English

Pali

Bird

Polynesian

Pall

Skin, parchment

English

Peal

English

Peall

English

Peel

English

Pell

Skin, parchment

English


What names are similar to Paul?

Find a name that’s like Paul, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Paley

English

Pollard

Small

English

Powell

Son of Howell

English


Lists With Paul

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Paul.


Siblings of Paul

Mamas with kids named Paul also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Naomi

Pleasant one

Hebrew

16 Comments

  1. We wanted a Biblical name and love Paul in the Bible and the amazing transformation God did in his life!

  2. Paul was a family name on my husbands side. Every other generation the first male son is Paul or James, so my father in law is Paul and my husband is James. Our Paul is the 6th generation to follow this. I also have an uncle named Paul so I was happy use it. His middle name is Daniel after my Dad, covering both Grandpas 🙂

  3. The name Paul is a strong sophisticated
    masculine name.

  4. The name Paul is important to both mine and my husbands family. Paul is family name on my husband’s dad’s side. For six generations the first born son has been called Paul and then the next generations son is James and then the following is Paul etc. I also have an uncle named Paul, and my grandfather’s confirmation name is also Paul.

  5. He’s Paul (4th), we chose it because it’s a family name and all the 1st born boys for the past 4 generations have been called Paul plus it’s a biblical name.

  6. It is a short but strong name.

  7. I chose Paul because it was my brother name and he pass away when we was in high school

  8. My father in law passed away in 2015 and we named the baby after him. I love the name Paul and thing it’s a strong/old school name. Paul is a miracle baby and we’re so blessed that he’s with us!

  9. Saint Paul – and Paul is simple and it’s a throwback ?

  10. My brother Paul is 5 and my sister is 8 yet they are the same size. Paul is giant even though his name means small.

  11. We named our son after his great grandpa.

  12. Strong name.
    Biblical after St. Paul
    Family name

  13. Named after my husband Paul

  14. I had a grandfather named Paul and he meant so much to me that I wanted a way to honor his memory by naming my son after him.

  15. My husband and I are huge fast and the furious fans. We got the name Paul form Paul walker( Brian in the the movies). Dominc is from Dominic Toreto played by Vin desil.
    Paul Dominic is definitely out fast and furious baby, he came out fast and is accelling really fast.

  16. He was named after my dad he was born in three min And was 4 days earlie I was laborat home the whole time he already has his bottom teeth he weight 6lbs 15 ounces and was 19 “1/4


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