Paul is a distinctive choice, ranked #586 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Paul in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#586
US Rank #264
About the Name Paul
Paul has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 202 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #72 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has broken into the UK top 100 on 4 occasions, signalling genuine mainstream interest.
Paul is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #264, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Paul
Unlikely. With around 65 UK babies named Paul per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Paul in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Paul has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 202 places in the last five years. Its peak was #72 in 1996. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Paul is more popular in the US (#264) than in the UK (#586). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Paul include: Ron Paul — Ronald Ernest Paul is an American author, activist, medical doctor, and former politician who served as the U.; Lyn Paul — Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress.; Chris Paul — Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr..
Paul appears in the US top 500 at #264 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
65
UK babies named Paul (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 202 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Paul
Likely around 1 other Paul in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Paul
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Paul Louis François Spaak was a Belgian lawyer, poet, literary historian, and playwright. Born in Ixelles, Spaak graduated in law at the Université libre de Bruxelles in 1894.
Ronald Ernest Paul is an American author, activist, medical doctor, and former politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1976 to 1977, and again from 1979 to 1985, as well as for Texas's 14th congressional district from 1997 to 2013.
Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress. She came to fame as a member of the international chart-topping pop group the New Seekers in the early 1970s.
Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr., nicknamed "CP3" and "the Point God", is an American former professional basketball player. Regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, two Olympic gold medals, and led the NBA in assists five times and steals a record six times.