Paul
Paul is a boy name of Latin origin, meaning Small and humble.
What Paul means
Small and humble.
Paul is short — 4 letters, and ends on a consonant, which gives it a firmer stop.
Where Paul comes from
Latin names travelled through the Roman world and then through the Church, which is why so many survive across Europe in local variants. A great many were originally descriptive — of virtue, of appearance, or of birth order.
Paul is recorded as Latin in origin. Browse other Latin names.
How popular is Paul?
In the boy name rankings we track, Paul falls outside the top 100. That puts it in the broad middle ground where most names live: familiar to those who know it, uncommon enough to still feel like a choice.
The character of Paul
Two ideas meet in Paul: scripture and the long-established classics. Names carrying more than one theme tend to be the ones that suit a wider range of siblings.
Names like Paul
These share Paul's themes, origin, or both — closest first.
- Priscilla — Ancient and venerable.
- Benjamin — Son of the right hand.
- James — Supplanter; a timeless classic.
- Joseph — God will increase.
- Theodore — Gift of God.
- Jacob — Supplanter; holder of the heel.
- John — God is gracious.
- Thomas — Twin.
- Isabella — Devoted to God.
- Josephine — God will increase.
- Elizabeth — Pledged to God; God is my oath.
- Judith — Woman of Judea; praised.
More Latin names
- Patricia — Noble; patrician.
- Pax — Peace.
- Orson — Bear cub.
- Pearl — A precious pearl.
- Olivia — Olive tree — peace, dignity, friendship.
- Priscilla — Ancient and venerable.
- Olive — The olive tree; peace.
- Prudence — Wise caution; good judgement.
- Octavian — The eighth-born.
- Puma — The swift mountain cat.