Paul
1 syllable
♂ Male ◎ Biblical / Latin / Amish ◈ 1 syllable
"Tiny, Petite"

From Biblical / Latin / Amish

Paul means small — from the Latin paulus. But the apostle Paul was anything but small: he transformed Christianity from a Jewish sect into a global religion. Paul McCartney wrote Yesterday, the most covered song in history. Paul Newman had the most famous blue eyes in cinema. Four letters of small-meaning that changed the world more than any other name in the New Testament.

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Paul at a glance
MeaningTiny, Petite
OriginBiblical / Latin / Amish
GenderMale
Syllables1
NumerologyLife Path 5
US Rank (today)#240
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Why parents love Paul
  • The apostle Paul transformed Christianity into a global religion.
  • Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters in history.
  • Paul Newman had the most famous blue eyes in cinema.
  • Four letters, one syllable — absolute simplicity: PAWL.
  • The irony of small meaning with world-changing impact is powerful.
The vibe of Paul
apostleMcCartneyNewmansmall-but-mightyYesterdayblue-eyesglobal-religiontransformative
Origin & history of Paul
Latin paulus (small/humble) English Paul
1
Biblical / Latin / Amish roots
Paul comes from the Latin paulus, meaning small. The apostle Paul (originally Saul of Tarsus) wrote most of the New Testament epistles and transformed Christianity from a Jewish sect into a universal religion. Paul McCartney co-wrote the Beatles' catalogue and wrote Yesterday, the most covered song in history. Paul Newman was one of Hollywood's greatest actors.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — the apostle Paul (originally Saul), author of most New Testament epistles.
3
Today
Paul remains a beloved choice, ranking #240 in the US. 1,402,786 babies have been named Paul since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
How popular is Paul?
1957 peak year
Today, Paul ranks around #240 in the United States, with roughly 1,561 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 1957, 27,012 babies were given the name (ranked #18 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 1950s. Paul has been declining in recent years. In all, around 1,402,786 babies have been registered as Paul since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
27,012 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #18)
1,561 Avg. per year
(last decade)
15,610 Total registrations
last 10 years
1,402,786 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #240) Very popular
↓ Declining in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Paul
5
Life path number
The Adventurer
Freedom, adventure and curiosity.

Paul's Life Path 4 is the builder's number — building a religion. People named Paul tend to be small in ego, enormous in impact, and gifted at building things that last millennia.

Small ego, enormous impact
Builds what lasts millennia
Yesterday's songwriter
Blue-eyed clarity
Transforms everything he touches
P7
A1
U3
L3
Sum: 14 → Life path 5
Personality of Paul
🌍
Free spirit
Adventure calls and they always answer.
Electric energy
Things happen around them — exciting, unexpected.
🦋
Adaptable
New situations are opportunities, never threats.
💬
Natural charmer
There's something magnetic about them.
Names that combine with Paul

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Paul.

Middle names for Paul

The right middle name turns Paul into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Paul is a beautiful choice.
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