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Paul

Boy 🏆 #23 all-time 🕰️ vintage 👥 Baby Boomers 🇫🇷 In French: Pablo
📊 1 397 232 babies named Paul in the US since 1880, peaking in the 1950s. Recorded from 1880 to 2020.
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Births per year — the shaded band is its generation (Baby Boomers)
Origin: Latin cognomen 'Paulus' meaning 'small'. Meaning: Small, humble.
⛪ The figure behind the name: Saint Paul the Apostle — feast day June 29.
A 1st-century Jew of Tarsus who, after a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, became Christianity's most influential missionary and the author of many New Testament epistles that shaped Christian theology.
Wikidata
⭐ Famous bearer: Paul McCartney (born 1942), singer-songwriter and member of The Beatles

📖 The story of the name Paul

Paul is short, direct and monumental — a name meaning simply 'small' or 'humble' that, through one man, became one of the most consequential in Western history. Saul of Tarsus took the Roman name Paulus after his conversion on the road to Damascus, then spent his life carrying Christianity across the Mediterranean, writing the letters that form much of the New Testament.

Because of him, Paul has been a staple of the Christian world for two millennia, celebrated jointly with Saint Peter on June 29. Popes, kings and philosophers have worn it; it crosses every European language with barely a change — Paolo, Pablo, Pavel, Paulus.

Modern Paul is the definition of an understated classic. It sounds calm, capable and unpretentious — no frills, no ego, just quiet substance. From Paul McCartney to Paul Newman, its famous bearers share an easy, grounded charisma, and the name today feels timeless, gently retro, and thoroughly likeable.

✨ What is a Paul like?

A Paul is the steady hand everyone trusts — and the name's meaning, 'humble', turns out to be uncannily accurate. His lowest score is the need for attention (3): a Paul genuinely doesn't crave the spotlight, which paradoxically is exactly why people gravitate to him. He's the calm, grounded presence who lets his work and his loyalty do the talking. With stability at 8, loyalty at 8, and a smooth diplomatic streak at 8, he's the natural mediator, the reliable friend, the colleague who quietly holds the whole thing together.

The name's two-thousand-year pedigree suits him. Saint Paul reshaped the ancient world through sheer conviction and tireless words, and a modern Paul carries a similar unflashy substance — thoughtful, articulate when it counts, principled. He's not chasing glory (ambition sits at a comfortable 6, aimed at doing things well rather than being seen doing them). He measures success in trust earned and problems solved.

His famous namesakes tell the story: Paul McCartney's warm, melodic genius; Paul Newman's cool, generous decency; Cézanne's patient, obsessive craft. There's an easy, likeable charisma to the name that never tips into showing off. A Paul is fun in a low-key way — a good 6 in humor keeps things light — but he's the friend who listens more than he talks, remembers what you said, and shows up when it matters.

Grounded, tactful, loyal to a fault, a Paul is the person you'd want negotiating a truce, driving the getaway car, or simply sitting across the table on a hard day. Understated by name and by nature, he proves that the quiet ones often carry the most weight. A genuinely good egg, and everyone around him knows it.

Playful portrait, for entertainment.

❤️ Paul in love

Paul’s passion is not a loud proclamation, but a quiet, magnetic gravity. Rooted in the ancient humility of his name, he does not conquer; he invades through intimacy. He seduces by making the other feel seen, small in the most precious sense of the word—delicate, cherished, and entirely focused upon. His charm lies in this profound, grounding presence. He is drawn to souls that possess a hidden depth, those who, like him, understand the strength found in modesty. He does not crave the flashy or the superficial; he seeks the authentic core, the raw truth beneath the skin.

However, his patience is finite. He is swiftly repelled by arrogance, by those who demand the spotlight while offering nothing of substance. To Paul, vanity is a loud, empty noise that drowns out the subtle symphony of connection. He needs a partner who appreciates the power of silence and the weight of a shared glance. In love, he is the steady hand, the anchor. He gives himself fully, not because he is small, but because his love is dense, concentrated, and unyielding. He wants a union that is private, intense, and real, where vulnerability is the only currency accepted.

🌟 Famous people named Paul

💬 Nicknames: Paulie, Pauly, Pablo.
🌍 In other languages: Paul (français) · Paul (English) · Paolo (italiano) · Pablo (español) · Paul (Deutsch) · Pavel (русский).

🎲 Did you know?

🔢 Numerology: Paul vibrates on the number 5. Five is the number of the communicator and the traveler — oddly perfect for the apostle who crisscrossed the ancient world spreading his message. Pauls tend to be adaptable, curious and good with words, at ease in almost any company. A short name with a wandering, restless five inside it: unassuming on the outside, always going somewhere on the inside.
Pure entertainment 😉

❓ Frequently asked questions about Paul

What does the name Paul mean?

It means 'small' or 'humble', from the Latin family name Paulus.

When is Paul's name day?

June 29, the great feast of Saints Peter and Paul. (The Conversion of Saint Paul is also marked on January 25.)

Who was Saint Paul?

Originally named Saul of Tarsus, he converted to Christianity after a vision on the road to Damascus and became its foremost missionary and the author of many New Testament letters.

Is Paul used across different languages?

Yes — it travels easily as Paolo (Italian), Pablo (Spanish), Paulo (Portuguese), Pavel (Russian) and Paulus (Latin/Dutch).

Is Paul an old-fashioned name?

It's a timeless classic rather than dated — hugely popular through the mid-20th century and still recognized everywhere as a steady, dependable choice.

🎭 Paul's profile

⚡ Energy 5/10
😄 Humor 6/10
🦅 Independence 6/10
💧 Sensitivity 6/10
🎯 Ambition 6/10
⚓ Stability 8/10
🎨 Whimsy 4/10
🕊️ Diplomacy 8/10
🤝 Loyalty 8/10
🔆 Need for attention 3/10

Playful profile, for entertainment.

Name compatibility potential:

Gender B-GB-BAll
Generation SilentBoomersXYZAlphaAll
Popularity CommonFrequentUncommonRareAll

Friendship potential for Paul

💚 Top 10

  1. Patty96%
  2. Karen96%
  3. Kathryn96%
  4. Lori96%
  5. Kathleen96%
  6. Ellen96%
  7. Patricia96%
  8. Debra96%
  9. Nadine96%
  10. Laura96%

💔 Bottom 10

  1. Bonnie50%
  2. Toni52%
  3. Vicky55%
  4. Melody55%
  5. Cindy55%
  6. Roxanne55%
  7. Joy56%
  8. Georgia57%
  9. Wanda59%
  10. Marilyn59%

Love potential for Paul

💔 Bottom 10

  1. Marilyn51%
  2. Melody51%
  3. Vicky52%
  4. Wanda53%
  5. Bonnie54%
  6. Roxanne55%
  7. Toni58%
  8. Rita59%
  9. Georgia60%
  10. Cindy61%

Professional potential for Paul

💚 Top 10

  1. Christine96%
  2. Ellen96%
  3. Constance96%
  4. Connie96%
  5. Paula96%
  6. Eileen96%
  7. Gail96%
  8. Elaine96%
  9. Ann95%
  10. Anne95%

💔 Bottom 10

  1. Carla60%
  2. Wanda64%
  3. Gloria65%
  4. Regina67%
  5. Melody68%
  6. Phyllis68%
  7. Marilyn68%
  8. Karla69%
  9. Vicki69%
  10. Vickie69%

Crush potential for Paul

💔 Bottom 10

  1. Bonnie46%
  2. Toni47%
  3. Roxanne49%
  4. Cindy50%
  5. Wanda53%
  6. Joy53%
  7. Vicky56%
  8. Georgia56%
  9. Sally58%
  10. Melody58%