Paul is a popular masculine given name with Latin origins. It comes from the Roman family name Paulus, which was derived from the Latin word "paulus" meaning 'small' or 'humble'. The name has been widely used throughout history and has been associated with numerous notable figures.
The name Paul first became prominent through the Apostle Paul of Tarsus, who was a Christian apostle and writer of several books in the New Testament. He played a crucial role in spreading Christianity and is considered one of the most influential individuals in the early Christian church. Due to his significant impact on Christianity, the name Paul has been widely used among Christians throughout history.
In terms of its usage over time, Paul has consistently ranked as one of the most popular names for boys in various countries. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Paul was among the top 1000 most common boy's names every year between 1879 and 2019, with its popularity peaking in the mid-20th century.
Some notable individuals named Paul include French impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, American author and philosopher Paul Tillich, British physicist and mathematician Paul Dirac, and former US President Barack Obama's older half-brother, Paul Howard Usui Obama Soetoro. Despite its widespread usage, the name Paul has not been associated with any specific holidays or traits of character throughout history. Instead, it has simply remained a popular choice for parents seeking a classic and timeless name for their sons.
The name Paul has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States. In the late 19th century, the number of babies named Paul ranged from around 300 to just over 400 per year. However, starting in the early 20th century, the popularity of the name began to increase rapidly. Between 1912 and 1926, the number of births named Paul jumped from approximately 5,000 to over 14,000 per year.
The peak of popularity for the name Paul occurred in 1954, with a total of 26,222 babies named Paul that year. This was more than double the number of births with that name recorded in any previous year. However, after reaching this high point, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily.
By the 1970s and 1980s, the number of babies named Paul had fallen to around 10,000 per year. This downward trend continued into the 1990s, with fewer than 5,000 births being recorded as Paul each year between 1994 and 2003.
Since then, the popularity of the name Paul has stabilized at a much lower level than its mid-century peak. In recent years, around 1,500 babies have been named Paul annually in the United States. Despite this decline, it is still among the top 500 most popular boys' names in the country.
In total, over the past 137 years, there have been approximately 1,395,583 births of individuals named Paul recorded in the United States. This makes it a name with a rich history and enduring appeal, albeit one that has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over time.