Paul is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Paul means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Paul across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Paul has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Paul is a boy name of Latin origin meaning “small, humble”. borne by the apostle Paul.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 1,404,135 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 8,525 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 21,108 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 1,049 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 34,465 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 22,959 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Paul per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1957 (27,076/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1964 (1,814/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1974 (1,260/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (898/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1997 (123/yr).
Paul has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1957, when it ranked #29 nationally (given to 27,076 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1950s.
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