Paul is an English as well as Dutch, French and German masculine given name. The Roman and subsequently Christian derived name and its variations can also be a surname.
Origin and diffusion The name has existed since Roman times. It derives from the Roman family name Paulus or Paullus, from the Latin adjective meaning "small", "humble", "least" or "little". During the Classical Age it was used to distinguish the minor of two people of the same family bearing the same name. The Roman patrician family of the Gens Aemilia included such prominent persons as Lucius Aemilius Paullus, Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus, Tertia Aemilia Paulla (the wife of Scipio Africanus), and Sergius Paulus.
Its prevalence in nations with a Christian heritage is primarily due to its attachment to Saint Paul the Apostle, whose Greek name was Παῦλος, Paûlos, a transliteration from the Latin, also carrying the "modest" meaning of this name. The name Paul is common, with variations, in all Christian nations' languages.
Paul's popularity has varied. In the United States, the 1990 census shows it ranked the 13th most common (male) name; however, Social Security Administration data shows Paul in the top 20 given names in 1968, after which it began a steady decline.
The feminine versions are Paula, Pauline, Paulina, and Paulette.
Other languages
Latin: Paulus Arabic: بولس (Būlus, in the Bible), بولص (Būluṣ) Aragonese: Pavlo Basque: Paulo Belarusian: Павeл (Paveł), Паўлюк (Paŭĺuk), Паўлюсь (Paŭĺuś) Biblical Greek: Paulos or Pavlos Biblical Latin: Paulus Bosnian: Pavao Bulgarian: Павел (Pavel) Catalan: Pau Croatian: Pavao Czech: Pavel Danish: Poul, Povl, Palle Dutch: Paul, Paulus, Pauwel Esperanto: Paŭlo, Paĉjo Estonian: Paul, Paavel, Paavo Finnish: Paavali, Paavo, Pauli French: Paul, Pol, Paulin Galician: Paulo German: Paul Hawaiian: Paulo Hebrew: (Paulus – only used in Biblical context)) Hungarian: Pál (Nicknames: Pali, Palika, Paja, Pajus, Pajó, Palcsi, Palcsika, Pálka, Palkó, Pálocska) Icelandic: Páll Irish: Pól Italian: Paolo, Paolino Latin: Paulus Latvian: Pauls, Pāvils Lithuanian: Paulas, Paulius, Povilas Norwegian: Paul, Pål Polish: Paweł Portuguese: Paulo, Paulino, Paulinho, Pavão (archaic) Romanian: Paul, Pavel Russian: (Pavel) Serbian: Павле (Pavle) Slovak: Pavol Slovene: Pavel Spanish: Pablo, Paulino, Paulo Swedish: Paul, Pål Ukrainian: Павло (Pavlo)
Notable examples
Mononym Paul I (disambiguation) Paul II (disambiguation) Patriarch Paul (disambiguation) Pope Paul (disambiguation) Saint Paul (disambiguation) Listed chronologically Paul the Apostle (c. 5–c. 64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Christian missionary and writer Paul (jurist), also called Julius Paulus, praetorian prefect Paul (Nestorian patriarch), briefly Patriarch of the Church of the East in 539 Paul (bishop of Mérida), the metropolitan bishop of Mérida in the mid sixth century (fl. 540s/550s) Paul (father of Maurice) (died 593), father of Byzantine Emperor. Maurice and head of the Byzantine Senate Paul of Aegina (625–690), Greek surgeon Paul (exarch), Exarch of Ravenna from 723 to 727 Paul the Deacon (c. 720–c. 799), Italian Benedictine monk Paul of Latrus (died c. 956), Greek hermit Paul, son of Peter, voivode of Transylvania between 1221 and 1222 Paul, Latin Patriarch of Constantinople (died 1371) Paul (Meletiev) (1880–1962), Catholic bishop Paul of Greece (1901–1964), King of Greece Paul (Ponomaryov) (born 1952), emeritus Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus and leader of the Belarusian Orthodox Church
A Paul Abbate, American law enforcement officer Paul Abberley (born 1959), chief executive of Charles Stanley Group Paul Abbott (disambiguation), several people Paul Abrahamian, American reality television personality and clothing designer Paul Ackerman (1908–1977), American music journalist Paul Ackford (born 1958), English former rugby union international player Paul Adado (born 1983), Togolese footballer Paul Adelstein (born 1969), American actor and writer Paul Adams (disambiguation), several people Paul Adamson, British editor and the chairman of Forum Europe and founder of E!Sharp Paul Adelstein (born 1969), American actor Paul Adomites, baseball and oil historian, author and Society for American Baseball Research Paul Affleck (born 1966), Welsh professional golfer Paul Agostino (born 1975), Australian former professional footballer Paul Ahmarani (born 1972), Canadian actor Paul Ainslie (born 1967), Canadian city councillor Paul W. Airey (1923–2009), United States Air Force airman, first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Paul Aizley (1936–2023), American politician Paul Ajlouny (born 1933), Palestinian-American publisher and businessman Paul Akers, American author and businessman Paul Alan (born 1971), American Contemporary Christian music artist and songwriter Paul Alexander (disambiguation), several people Paul Alfonsi (1908–1989), Wisconsin politician Paul Alford, Canadian football guard and running back Paul Allen (disambiguation), several people Paul Alter (1922–2011), American television director Paul Ambros (1934–2015), German ice hockey player Paul Ambrose (1868–1941), Canadian organist, conductor, composer, and music educator Paul America (1944–1982), American actor Paul Thomas Anderson (born 1970), American film director and screenwriter Paul W. S. Anderson (born 1965), English filmmaker Paul Y. Anderson (1893–1938), American journalist Paul Andrea (born 1941), Canadian former ice hockey right winger Paul Martin Andrews (born 1959), American rape survivor Paul Angelis (1943–2009), English actor and writer Paul Anka (born 1941), Canadian singer and songwriter Paul Anlauf (died 1931), German murder victim Paul Annacone (born 1963), American former touring professional tennis player and current tennis coach Paul Anspach (1882–1991), Belgian épée and foil fencer, two-time Olympic champion Paul Anthony (born 1955), Welsh senior executive Paul Anthony (basketball) (1924–1993), American professional basketball player Paul Antonelli (born 1959), American composer, musician, music director, and music supervisor Paul S. Appelbaum (born 1951), American psychiatrist Paul Arcand (born 1960), Canadian radio host Paul Ardaji, American film producer Paul Arizin (1928–2006), American professional basketball player Paul Armentano, American cannabis activist Paul Arnold (disambiguation), several people Paul Aron (born 2004), Estonian racing driver Paul Ash (1891–1958), German orchestra leader Paul Acheampong Cofie Atuahene (1923–????), Ghanaian politician Paul Aurelian, 6th-century Welshman who became first bishop of the See of Léon Paul Aussaresses (1918–2013), French Army general Paul Auster (1947–2024), American writer and film director Paul Atcheson (born 1973), Welsh former international rugby league footballer Paul Atkins (cinematographer), American cinematographer and director Paul Atkinson (guitarist) (1946–2004), British guitarist and record company executive Paul Avrich (1931–2006), American historian Paul Ayer (politician), American politician Paul Azinger (born 1960), American golfer and TV golf analyst
B Paul Baade (born 1940), Democratic member Paul W. Baade (1889–1959), United States Army officer Paul Babeu (born 1969), American law enforcement officer, politician and member of the Republican Party
Paul Bucha (1943–2024), American Vietnam War veteran Paul Bacon (disambiguation), several people Paul Badré (1906–2000), French aircraft pilot and engineer Paul Badura-Skoda (1927–2019), Austrian pianist Paul Baier (born 1985), American former professional ice hockey defenseman Paul Baillargeon (born 1943), Canadian composer Paul Baillargeon (1928–1997), Canadian professional wrestler Paul Bailey, several people Paul Bales, American director, screenwriter, and producer Paul Balmer (born 1970), Swiss mathematician Paul Baloche (born 1962), American Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter Paul Bamba (1989–2024), Puerto Rican boxer Paul Barnard (politician), American politician Paul Barbarin (1899–1969), American jazz drummer Paul Jean Joseph Barbarin (1855–1931), French mathematician Paul Barber, several people Paul Barlow, Australian former rules footballer Paul Barnes (disambiguation), several people Paul Barrere (1948–2019), American musician Paul Barresi (born 1949), American actor, movie director, and media personality Paul Bartel (1938–2000), American actor, writer and director Paul Bartlett (disambiguation), several people Paul Barwick (born 1946), American former LGBT rights activist Paul Bates (cricketer) (born 1974), English cricketer Paul L. Bates (1908–1995), United States Army officer Paul Bateson (1940–2012), American former radiographer, convicted murderer, and suspected serial killer Paul Batista (born 1948), American television personality, novelist and trial lawyer Paul Baum (artist) (1859–1932), German landscape painter Paul Baum (mathematician) (born 1936), American mathematician Paul Bazely (born 1968), English actor Paul Bearer (1954–2013), American professional wrestling manager and licensed funeral director Paul André Beaulieu (1904–2007), Canadian diplomat Paul Beeston (born 1945), Canadian former professional baseball executive DJ Paul (born 1977), American DJ, rapper, and producer Paul Beisman (died 1958), American theater manager Paul Murray Bellan, Canadian-American physicist Paul Bellini (born 1959), Canadian comedy writer and television actor Paul Benedict (1938–2008), American actor Paul K. Benedict (1912–1997), American anthropologist, mental health professional, and linguist Paul Ben-Haim (1897–1984), Israeli composer Paul Benjamin (1938–2019), American actor and playwright Paul G. Bens Jr. (born 1964), American writer and former independent film and television casting director Paul Ben-Victor (born 1965), American actor Paul Berch, New Hampshire lawyer and politician Paul Berezney (1915–1990), American football player Paul Berg (disambiguation), several people Paul Bergé (1881–1970), American symphony conductor Paul Bern (1889–1932), German-born American film director, screenwriter, and producer Paul Bernardo (born 1964), Canadian serial killer and rapist Paul Berthon (1872–1910), French artist Paul Émile Berton (1846–1909), French landscape painter Paul Bertrand (1879–1944), French paleobotanist Paul Bettany (born 1971), English actor Paul D. Bevis (1884–1976), American politician, member of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Bhagwandas (1950–1996), Suriname battalion commander Paul Bhattacharjee (1960–c.2013), British actor Paul Bie-Eyene, Gabonese diplomat Paul Bigsby (1899–1968), American inventor, designer, and pioneer Paul Bilzerian (born 1950), American businessman Paul Binder (born 1942), American founder, founding artistic director and former ringmaster of the Big Apple Circus Paul Birnbaum (born 1967), American drummer Paul Bissonnette (born 1985), Canadian former professional ice hockey player Paul Biya (born 1933), Cameroonian politician Paul Blackburn (disambiguation), several people Paul Blackthorne (born 1969), English actor Paul Blanshard (1892–1980), American author Paul Bley (1932–2016), Canadian jazz pianist Paul Blomfield (born 1953), British politician Paul Bloodgood (1960–2018), artist and gallery owner Paul Bocuse (1926–2018), French chef Paul Boesch (1912–1989), American professional wrestler and promoter Paul Vanden Boeynants (1919–2001), Belgian politician Paul Bogart (1919–2012), American television director and producer Paul Boghossian (born 1957), American philosopher Paul Bogle (1822–1865), Jamaican Baptist deacon and activist Paul Bogle (priest), Dean of Clonmacnoise since 2014