Paul is a popular male given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Roman clan name Paulus, which was derived from the Latin word "paulus" meaning "small" or "humble." The name was borne by Saint Paul of Tarsus, also known as Saul of Tarsus, who was an apostle and missionary in the Early Christian Church.
The name Paul has been widely used throughout history. It was a popular name among early Christians due to its association with Saint Paul. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was commonly used in England and France. In the 20th century, it became particularly popular in English-speaking countries, peaking in popularity during the 1920s and 1930s.
Some notable people who have borne the name Paul include:
* Paul the Apostle (c. AD 5–c. AD 67), an apostle and missionary in the Early Christian Church
* Paul I of Russia (1754-1801), Emperor of Russia from 1796 to 1801
* Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), a French Post-Impressionist painter
* Paul McCartney (born 1942), an English singer-songwriter and former member of the Beatles
* Paul Newman (1925-2008), an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast
The name Paul has also been used as a surname, derived from the given name. Some notable families with the surname Paul include:
* the House of Bourbon-Parma, which includes King Albert II of Belgium
* the House of Windsor, through Queen Elizabeth II's maternal grandfather, Earl Mountbatten of Burma
The name Paull appeared consistently throughout these years with 6 births recorded both in 1933 and 1945, followed by a slight decrease to 5 births in 1960, resulting in a total of 17 births over the span of these three decades.