Paul McCartney
Beatles co-founder and one of the most successful musicians in history
Boy New Testament Very common
Paul
small; little
Παῦλος Paulos
Paul (Greek: Παῦλος, Paulos) means “small; little”, by traditional interpretation. It belongs to one man who carries two names in the text — he is also called Saul. In 2025 it was given to 1,316 children in the United States, ranking 262. Use is falling away. Around 1,404,135 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Apollos in 1 Corinthians 3.
Merged person graphTIPNR + BibleData
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Paul
TIPNR + BibleDataSSA · public domain
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
Concordance Depth Index
131.8 · rank 15
US usage today
rank 262 · 1,316 births in 2025
TIPNR + BibleDataSTEPBible · CC BY
At a glance
- Verses
- 182 across 15 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- New
- Era
- Apostolic
Merged person graph182 verse pairs
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Acts 7:58 |
| Last appears | 2 Peter 3:15 |
| Two names, one person | Paul/Saul |
| Cross-references | 5,360 linked passages |
SSA · public domainibge_censoine_es_edad_mediaIRN PT
The same name elsewhere
| Country | Form | Standing | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Paul | rank 262 · 1,316 in 2025 | Births in year |
| Brazil | PAULO | 1,423,262 bearers · born 1930–2010 | Living residents |
| Spain | PABLO | 227,981 bearers · mean age 30.4 | Living residents |
| Portugal | Paulo | permitted | IRN approved list |
Two different questions are shown here. Rows marked births in year count children registered during a period; rows marked living residents count people of every age alive at a census. They answer different questions and are never added together.
SSA · public domainBirths in year
Using it today
Very unlikely to share a classroom with another.
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 1,316 | Falling |
| All-time total | 1,404,135 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 27,076 in 1957 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
Computed · A2/A3Rationale generated
Names connected to this one
- Saul renaming pair Called Saul before Acts 13:9 — one person, two names in the text.
- Barnabas co-occurrence Appears with Barnabas in Acts 13.
- Silas co-occurrence Appears with Silas in Acts 17.
- Joseph co-occurrence Appears with Joseph in Acts 13.
- Timothy co-occurrence Appears with Timothy in Acts 17.
- Festus co-occurrence Appears with Festus in Acts 25.
- Apollos co-occurrence Appears with Apollos in 1 Corinthians 3.
- Claudius co-occurrence Appears with Claudius in Acts 25.
Origin & meaning
Strong's number
G3972G
Greek
Παῦλος
Transliteration
Paulos
Παῦλος, -ου, ὁ (Lat. Paulus),
__1. Sergius Paulus: Act.13:7.
__2. the Apostle Paul (cf. Σαῦλος): Act.13:9, and frequently throughout Ac., Rom.1:1, 1Co.1:1, al., 2Pe.3:15.
(AS)
Paul, also known as Saul, the apostle to the Gentiles and author of many New Testament epistles.
The biblical story
Paul, also known as Saul, was one of the most influential figures in early Christianity. He was born in Tarsus as a Roman citizen and trained as a Pharisee under Gamaliel. Initially a persecutor of the church, Paul had a dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus, where the risen Jesus appeared to him. After this, he became a zealous preacher of the gospel, undertaking several missionary journeys throughout the Mediterranean world. Paul played a key role in spreading Christianity among the Gentiles and in articulating its theological foundations. He wrote many of the epistles in the New Testament, providing guidance and instruction to the early churches. Paul faced numerous challenges, including opposition from Jewish leaders, internal disputes among believers, and physical hardships. He was eventually arrested and taken to Rome, where tradition holds that he was martyred during the reign of Nero. Paul's life and teachings had a profound impact on the development of Christian thought and practice.
Key verses
Paul appears in 182 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Acts 7:58 -
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:1 -
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Acts 8:3 -
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Acts 9:1 -
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:4
Show all 182 references
Acts (152)
- Acts 7:58
- Acts 8:1
- Acts 8:3
- Acts 9:1
- Acts 9:4
- Acts 9:8
- Acts 9:11
- Acts 9:17
- Acts 9:19
- Acts 9:22
- Acts 9:24
- Acts 9:26
- Acts 11:25
- Acts 11:30
- Acts 12:25
- Acts 13:1
- Acts 13:2
- Acts 13:7
- Acts 13:9
- Acts 13:13
- Acts 13:16
- Acts 13:43
- Acts 13:45
- Acts 13:46
- Acts 13:50
- Acts 14:9
- Acts 14:11
- Acts 14:12
- Acts 14:14
- Acts 14:19
- Acts 15:2
- Acts 15:12
- Acts 15:22
- Acts 15:25
- Acts 15:35
- Acts 15:36
- Acts 15:38
- Acts 15:40
- Acts 16:3
- Acts 16:9
- Acts 16:14
- Acts 16:17
- Acts 16:18
- Acts 16:19
- Acts 16:25
- Acts 16:28
- Acts 16:29
- Acts 16:36
- Acts 16:37
- Acts 17:2
- Acts 17:4
- Acts 17:10
- Acts 17:13
- Acts 17:14
- Acts 17:15
- Acts 17:16
- Acts 17:22
- Acts 17:33
- Acts 18:1
- Acts 18:5
- Acts 18:9
- Acts 18:12
- Acts 18:14
- Acts 18:18
- Acts 19:1
- Acts 19:4
- Acts 19:6
- Acts 19:11
- Acts 19:13
- Acts 19:15
- Acts 19:21
- Acts 19:26
- Acts 19:29
- Acts 19:30
- Acts 20:1
- Acts 20:7
- Acts 20:9
- Acts 20:10
- Acts 20:13
- Acts 20:16
- Acts 20:37
- Acts 21:4
- Acts 21:8
- Acts 21:11
- Acts 21:13
- Acts 21:18
- Acts 21:26
- Acts 21:29
- Acts 21:30
- Acts 21:32
- Acts 21:37
- Acts 21:39
- Acts 21:40
- Acts 22:7
- Acts 22:13
- Acts 22:25
- Acts 22:28
- Acts 22:30
- Acts 23:1
- Acts 23:3
- Acts 23:5
- Acts 23:6
- Acts 23:10
- Acts 23:11
- Acts 23:12
- Acts 23:14
- Acts 23:16
- Acts 23:17
- Acts 23:18
- Acts 23:20
- Acts 23:24
- Acts 23:31
- Acts 23:33
- Acts 24:1
- Acts 24:10
- Acts 24:23
- Acts 24:24
- Acts 24:26
- Acts 24:27
- Acts 25:2
- Acts 25:4
- Acts 25:6
- Acts 25:7
- Acts 25:8
- Acts 25:9
- Acts 25:10
- Acts 25:14
- Acts 25:19
- Acts 25:21
- Acts 25:23
- Acts 26:1
- Acts 26:14
- Acts 26:24
- Acts 26:25
- Acts 26:28
- Acts 26:29
- Acts 27:1
- Acts 27:3
- Acts 27:9
- Acts 27:11
- Acts 27:21
- Acts 27:24
- Acts 27:31
- Acts 27:33
- Acts 27:43
- Acts 28:3
- Acts 28:8
- Acts 28:15
- Acts 28:16
- Acts 28:17
- Acts 28:25
- Acts 28:30
Romans (1)
- Romans 1:1
1 Corinthians (7)
- 1 Corinthians 1:1
- 1 Corinthians 1:12
- 1 Corinthians 1:13
- 1 Corinthians 3:4
- 1 Corinthians 3:5
- 1 Corinthians 3:22
- 1 Corinthians 16:21
2 Corinthians (2)
- 2 Corinthians 1:1
- 2 Corinthians 10:1
Galatians (2)
- Galatians 1:1
- Galatians 5:2
Ephesians (2)
- Ephesians 1:1
- Ephesians 3:1
Philippians (1)
- Philippians 1:1
Colossians (3)
- Colossians 1:1
- Colossians 1:23
- Colossians 4:18
1 Thessalonians (2)
- 1 Thessalonians 1:1
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18
2 Thessalonians (2)
- 2 Thessalonians 1:1
- 2 Thessalonians 3:17
1 Timothy (1)
- 1 Timothy 1:1
2 Timothy (2)
- 2 Timothy 1:1
- 2 Timothy 4:22
Titus (1)
- Titus 1:1
Philemon (3)
- Philemon 1:1
- Philemon 1:9
- Philemon 1:19
2 Peter (1)
- 2 Peter 3:15
Name variants & nicknames
- Paulie — nickname
- Pablo — Spanish
- Paulo — Portuguese
- Saul — his Hebrew name (Acts 13:9)
Notable people with this name
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Oscar-winning American actor and philanthropist
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