Name meaning & stats
Paul
Paul means “small” (Latin origin). 1,040,687 US babies since 1940, peak 1957. Notable Pauls are 1.6× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
“small”
LatinWell documented
From Latin paulus.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1957
1,040,687 US babies were named Paul between 1940 and 2025.
Where Pauls end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.6× | High · 608 people |
| Politician | 1.0× | High · 401 people |
| Professor | 1.2× | High · 315 people |
| Actor | 0.9× | High · 298 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, Pauls show up 1.6× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Paul has a surprise career: 1.6×
Name twins (peaked around 1957)