Paul

Gender Usage of the Name Paul

Overall Gender Classification Methodology

Paul is overwhelmingly used as a name for boys. Approximately 99.87% of recorded bearers are male. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.

Popularity of the Name Paul

• Worldwide

  #194 Boy’s name (2025)

• • United States

    #253 Boy’s name (2025)

  • United Kingdom

    #478 Boy’s name (2025)

  • Canada

    #147 Boy’s name (2024)

  • Australia

    Unranked (2025)

Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.

Overall PopularityMethodology

Paul is listed under Popular Boy Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.

Ranking OverviewMethodology

Paul ranked #194 on the Popular Boys’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It rose from #230 in 2024 — an improvement of 36 places. Paul maintains a steady presence among commonly used names.

Historically, its best recorded position was #5 in 1967. Its lowest recorded position was #254 in 2022. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name rose 49 places (from #243 to #194).

Name StyleMethodology

Characteristics of the Name Paul

Pronunciation & StructureMethodology

Phonetic Source

CMU

Syllables

1 syllable — One-Syllable Boy Names

Length

4 letters — Short Boy Names

Starts with

P — Boy Names Starting with P

Ends with

l — Boy Names Ending in “l”

Name AestheticMethodology

Paul features a single syllable with a sharp onset and steady closure. This concise structure has been defined by the historical legacy of Saint Paul the Apostle. It maintains a Elegant & Timeless quality through its enduring and consistent usage across centuries.

Middle Names For Paul

Middle names used with PaulMethodology

Paul is most frequently used with these boy middle names: Paul Edward · Paul Joseph · Paul Michael · Paul David · Paul AnthonyView all 1,200 boy middle names.

• Total 2,615 middle names used with Paul
• 457 girl middle names used with Paul
• 854 unisex middle names used with Paul

Middle name suggestions for PaulMethodology

Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Paul is most frequently associated with boy middle names that have 2 syllables, Strong–Weak stress pattern, 6 letters, and a starting sound of “j”.

Examples: Paul Joseph · Paul Junior · Paul Gerald · Paul Justin · Paul Julius. View all 175 suggested middle names.

Names Similar to Paul

Sound Like Paul Finder

Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Paolo · Paulo · Pol · View all 15 names

Spelled Like Paul Finder

Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Paulo · Paull · Paulu · View all 8 names

Same Starting Sound Finder

Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Patrick · Peter · Parker · View all Top 100 names

Rhymes With Paul Finder

Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Michael · Daniel · Samuel · View all Top 100 names

Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder

Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: James · John · Charles · View all Top 100 names

Dictionary & Etymology of “Paul”

Dictionary Meaning of "Paul"Methodology

• In the New Testament, Saul, Apostle to the Gentiles and author of fourteen epistles

  Examples

  • Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

• A male given name from Latin of biblical origin

  Examples

  • 'He will be christened Paul, my - Mrs Dombey - of course.' She feebly echoed, 'Of course,' or rather expressed it by the motion of her lips, and closed her eyes again. 'His father's name, Mrs Dombey, and his grandfather's! I wish his grandfather were alive this day! There is some inconvenience in the necessity of writing Junior,' said Mr Dombey, making a fictitious autograph on his knee; 'but it is merely of a private and personal complexion. It doesn't enter into the correspondence of the House. Its signature remains the same.'
  • Primarily seen as a publicity vehicle for late-year releases, the awards show and its promoters have lately made pretensions to Oscar oracling: Jamie Foxx won the “breakthrough actor of the year” prize for “Ray” in 2004, after all, and Paul Haggis and his ensemble cast were honored for “Crash” four months before it won best picture.

• A surname originating as a patronymic

• A place name

  Show details

  • An unincorporated community in Conecuh County, Alabama, United States, named after Paul the Apostle.
  • A city in Minidoka County, Idaho, United States.
  • An unincorporated community in Otoe County, Nebraska, United States.
  • A village south of Newlyn in Penzance parish, south-west Cornwall, England (OS grid ref SW4627). The civil parish of Paul (abolished 2021) did not include the village in latter years, and is now included in St Buryan, Lamorna and Paul.
  • A municipality on Santo Antão, Cape Verde.

Translations

The name Paul has 159 translations, for example: in Spanish it is rendered as the Apostle, in French it is rendered as male given name, etc..

More Info

How to Spell Paul in ASL

• P
• a
• u
• l

Comments on the name Paul

Community CommentsShowing 5 of 99 comments

• M6hu_8lhaw23

  19/09/2025

  In 2018, 46 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Paul who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 27th most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.

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• Phataiough5

  07/09/2025

  One reason the name Paul became more common in England after the Reformation was undoubtedly because it was not uncommon among Huguenot refugees who settled in London and other cities, as a look at genealogy sites suggests. (Even so, the popularity of the name did not take off until the mid-twentieth century.)

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• Minidogs299

  28/08/2025

  I only know one Paul, and he pronounces it "Paw-l".

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• Ariellullaby

  25/08/2025

  Clear, nice, and clean.

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• Wojownik1123

  11/08/2025

  Paul Castellano (1915-1985) was an American mobster and head of the Gambino crime family.

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