Paul
Paul is a distinctive choice, ranked #602 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Paul in their class.
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 uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Paul in their class.
In the US it ranks even higher at #264, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Paul
- Paul Spaak — Paul Louis François Spaak was a Belgian lawyer, poet, literary historian, and playwright.
- Ron Paul — Ronald Ernest Paul is an American author, activist, medical doctor, and former politician who served as the U.S.
- Lyn Paul — Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Paul
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Paul
Almost certainly the only Paul in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Paul
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
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Famous People Named Paul
Notable people who share this name, from history to the present day. See full list on Wikipedia