How to say it
PAUL
pɔl
Masculine
Paul
Small, humble
What it means
Latin Paulus, 'small' or 'humble.' A plain, grounded name with two thousand years of weight behind it.
Paul comes from the Roman cognomen Paulus, 'small' or 'humble.' The Apostle Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, took the name and carried it to the center of Christianity, which made it one of Europe's bedrock names for two millennia. It runs through every Western language as Paolo, Pablo, Pavel, and Paulo. Paul McCartney kept it modern; US use has cooled from its mid-century peak, but it never goes truly out.
How to spell Paul
The standard spelling is Paul. Common variants include Paolo, Pablo, Pavel, Paulo, but Paul is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #12 in 1916, currently #262 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
The Apostle Paul anchors the religious side; Paul McCartney and Paul Newman anchor the everyday one.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Apostle Paul early Christian missionary and letter-writer
- Paul McCartney Beatles songwriter and bassist
- Paul Newman American actor and philanthropist
Spelling variants
- Paolo
- Pablo
- Pavel
- Paulo
Names with the same feeling
See Paul from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Paul mean?
- Latin Paulus, 'small' or 'humble.' A plain, grounded name with two thousand years of weight behind it.
- What does Paul mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Paul means "Small, humble." Paul comes from the Roman cognomen Paulus, 'small' or 'humble.' The Apostle Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, took the name and carried it to the center of Christianity, which made it one of Europe's bedrock names for two millennia. It runs through every Western language as Paolo, Pablo, Pavel, and Paulo. Paul McCartney kept it modern; US use has cooled from its mid-century peak, but it never goes truly out.
- How do you pronounce Paul?
- Paul is pronounced pɔl. Say it as PAUL, with the stress on the "paul" syllable.
- How do you spell Paul?
- The standard spelling is Paul. Common spelling variants include Paolo, Pablo, Pavel, Paulo.
- Is Paul a boy or girl name?
- Paul is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Paul?
- Paul ranked #262 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.