Paul

Updated: January 31, 2022 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Thanks to Paul the Apostle, the baby name Paul has deep religious roots for Christian parents. But 20th-century pop culture also played a role in keeping the moniker on the list of the top 100 baby names for boys in the United States for at least a century. From hunky actors like Paul Newman and Paul Rudd to everyone's favorite Beatle, it's a safe bet that many generations of new moms have named their sons after their celebrity crushes.

Meaning of the name Paul:

Latin: Humble, small

Origin of the name Paul:

Before Paul was a given name, it was a Roman family name. It's derived from the Latin word “paulus,” which means “small” or “humble.”

Symbolism of the name Paul:

Many people of the Christian faith believe the Apostle Paul to be one of the most influential Christians in history. For this reason, the baby name Paul is often considered a strong symbol of that faith.

Style of the name Paul:

Classic

Gender of the name Paul:

Paul is a boy's name.

Pronunciation of the name Paul:

PAWL

Number of syllables in the name Paul:

One

Emotion evoked from the name Paul:

Thanks to handsome celebrities like Paul Newman and Paul McCartney, the baby name Paul evokes emotions of masculinity and ruggedness.

Alternative spellings for the name Paul:

Pawl
Paull
Pahl

Nicknames for the name Paul:

Paulie
Paulo
Pal
Pablo

Popularity of the name Paul:

According to the Social Security Administration, Paul was one of the top 100 baby names every single year between 1900 and 2000. As of 2020, it's fallen back to number 252.