What Does the Name Paul Mean?
Paul is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning “small, humble.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Paul |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Latin |
| Meaning | small, humble |
| Variants | Pablo, Paolo, Pavel, Pol, Pauli |
| Popularity | A US top 20 boys' name through the mid-20th century. |
The meaning and origin of Paul
The name Paul means “small, humble” and has Latin origins. From the Roman family name Paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble', borne by the apostle Paul (originally Saul), the most influential missionary of early Christianity. It has been a common Christian name throughout the Western world.
Variants and related names
Paul is related to several other names you may recognize: Pablo, Paolo, Pavel, Pol, Pauli. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Paul?
A US top 20 boys' name through the mid-20th century.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Paul below.
Generate a fake Paul profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Paul? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paul mean?+
The name Paul means “small, humble” and is of Latin origin.
What is the origin of the name Paul?+
Paul originates from Latin.
Is Paul a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Paul has trended in the US over time.
Paul by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press