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BoyLatin origin1 syllable

Paul

Meaning: “Small, humble”

About the name Paul

Paul is a boy name with Latin roots, meaning “Small, humble”.

It has a classic, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Paul ranked #262 for boys in the US, with 1,316 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1957. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Paul were boys.

Etymology

From Learned borrowing from Latin, meaning “small”.

Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Paul”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.

US rank 2025
#262
In 2015
#200
Babies in 2025
1,316

Popularity of Paul, 1940–2025

06.8k14k20k27k19401960198020002020
Boys GirlsBabies per year in the US

Latest SSA data: 2025.

Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).

Nicknames for Paul

Names similar to Paul

Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.