What Does the Name Saul Mean?
Saul is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “asked for, prayed for.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Saul |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | asked for, prayed for |
| Variants | Sha'ul, Saúl, Saulo, Sawl |
| Popularity | Common in Spanish-speaking countries (as Saúl) and Jewish communities; steadily used across the English-speaking world. |
The meaning and origin of Saul
The name Saul means “asked for, prayed for” and has Hebrew origins. From the Hebrew 'Sha'ul', meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for'. In the Bible, the first king of Israel, and also the original name of the Apostle Paul.
Variants and related names
Saul is related to several other names you may recognize: Sha'ul, Saúl, Saulo, Sawl. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Saul?
Common in Spanish-speaking countries (as Saúl) and Jewish communities; steadily used across the English-speaking world.
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 Saul below.
Generate a fake Saul profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Saul mean?+
The name Saul means “asked for, prayed for” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Saul?+
Saul originates from Hebrew.
Is Saul a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Saul has trended in the US over time.
Saul 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