Paul
Paul was the 262nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,316 babies. Its best year was 1916, when it ranked 12th; the most babies were born in 1957 (27,012). Over the last ten years it has moved down 62 places. More babies were named Paul in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning small, humble · Latin
Say it PAWL /pɔl/
- Rank in 2025
- #262 boys, down 10 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,316boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 195727,012 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,404,135babies recorded
What does the name Paul mean?
Paul comes from the Roman family name Paulus, from the Latin adjective paulus, 'small, little'; DMNES and Wiktionary agree, and Wikipedia adds 'humble'. Its fame comes from the apostle Paul, originally called Saul, whose letters make up much of the New Testament. DMNES lists many early saints, including a founder saint of Brittany and a Welsh saint. Pablo, Paolo and Pavel are its Spanish, Italian and Slavic forms, and Paula and Pauline are feminine.
paulus (Latin, “small, little”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Pablo, Paolo, Pavel, Paula, Pauline, Paulo.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Paul', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Paul', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- New Testament, Acts 13:9 (Greek text and translations via Bible Gateway), Bible Gateway
- Wikipedia, 'Paul (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Paul popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5,842 since 1884.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #262 | 1,316 |
| 2020 | #252 | 1,401 |
| 2010 | #177 | 2,129 |
| 2000 | #100 | 3,795 |
| 1990 | #49 | 8,579 |
| 1980 | #35 | 11,819 |
| 1970 | #23 | 20,196 |
| 1960 | #18 | 25,642 |
| 1950 | #18 | 21,742 |
| 1940 | #17 | 14,097 |
| 1930 | #12 | 12,955 |
| 1920 | #14 | 12,570 |
| 1910 | #15 | 2,005 |
| 1900 | #19 | 1,288 |
| 1890 | #31 | 607 |
| 1880 | #60 | 301 |
How popular is Paul, counting every spelling?
Paul is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #276 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #262 for Paul on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,325 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul | 1,316 | #262 | 6,724 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Paul?
1,316 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Paul (0.36 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Paul born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 6 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Paul.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Paul?
About 794,100 people born in the US named Paul are alive today, with a median age of 60; half are between 45 and 70. That makes Paul a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Paul by state
How common Paul was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Alaska (3.6×), Montana (2.1×), North Dakota (1.8×), Connecticut (1.8×), Pennsylvania (1.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Hawaii, Delaware, Mississippi.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Paul: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Paul, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Paul · Sibling names for Paul
Questions about the name Paul
What does Paul mean?
Paul means “small, humble” (Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Paul?
Paul was the 262nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,316 babies. Its best year was 1916, when it ranked 12th; the most babies were born in 1957 (27,012). Over the last ten years it has moved down 62 places. More babies were named Paul in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Paul a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Paul in the US.
Where is Paul most popular?
In 2021–2025, Paul was most common in Alaska (2.77 per 1,000 boys), followed by Montana and North Dakota.