Paul
/P-AO-L/
Small or humble, from the Latin cognomen Paulus, used in the Aemilia gens of Rome and meaning little in stature or the younger/lesser of two. The name entered the Christian tradition through the Apostle Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, who adopted his Latin name in his Gentile mission, and it spread across Europe in his wake to become one of the most enduring names in the Western canon.
Get Paul's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Paul:
How well does Paul fit your family?
This page tells you what Paul means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Paul is a Christian boy name of Latin origin, meaning “Small or humble, from the Latin cognomen Paulus, used in the Aemilia gens of Rome and meaning little in stature or the younger/lesser of two. The name entered the Christian tradition through the Apostle Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, who adopted his Latin name in his Gentile mission, and it spread across Europe in his wake to become one of the most enduring names in the Western canon.”.
Paul is a boy's name of Latin origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Small or humble, from the Latin cognomen Paulus, used in the Aemilia gens of Rome and meaning little in stature or the younger/lesser of two. The name entered the Christian tradition through the Apostle Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, who adopted his Latin name in his Gentile mission, and it spread across Europe in his wake to become one of the most enduring names in the Western canon." and belongs to the Divine cluster — names rooted in sacred meaning and spiritual tradition.
Common among European, Singaporean families, Paul carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Paul
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Paul lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Paul's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Paul's saint & feast day →What does Paul's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Paul resonates in either tradition.
Paul's destiny number is 5 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Paul's full reading →
Does Paul go with your family's names?
Paul breaks into 3 sounds: /P-AO-L/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Paul sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Paul beside your family's names →
Names similar to Paul
If Paul resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in European families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Divine cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Paul
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Paul — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Paul
What does the name Paul mean?
Paul means "Small or humble, from the Latin cognomen Paulus, used in the Aemilia gens of Rome and meaning little in stature or the younger/lesser of two. The name entered the Christian tradition through the Apostle Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, who adopted his Latin name in his Gentile mission, and it spread across Europe in his wake to become one of the most enduring names in the Western canon.." It is a boy name of Latin origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Paul a boy or girl name?
Paul is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Paul?
Paul is of Latin origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among European, Singaporean families.
Is Paul a Christian name?
Yes. Paul is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Latin origin.
What does Paul mean in Latin?
Paul originates from Latin, where it means "Small or humble, from the Latin cognomen Paulus, used in the Aemilia gens of Rome and meaning little in stature or the younger/lesser of two. The name entered the Christian tradition through the Apostle Paul, born Saul of Tarsus, who adopted his Latin name in his Gentile mission, and it spread across Europe in his wake to become one of the most enduring names in the Western canon.."
What is the numerology of Paul?
Paul has a Pythagorean destiny number of 5 — freedom and adventurous change.
See how Paul scores for your family
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