Paul
Boy name · #262 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Paul? In official American birth records, Paul has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Paul is currently the #262 boy name in the United States — 1,316 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #199, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,368 boys born in 2025 was named Paul.
Babies named Paul per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Paul first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 301 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 27,012 boys were named Paul — good for #18 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Paul against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Paul in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Paul is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Paul is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paul is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Paul is most common in NH (2.9 per 1,000), WV (1.6 per 1,000), ID (1.6 per 1,000), CT (1.4 per 1,000), KY (1.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Paul is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Paul
Statistically, parents drawn to Paul tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Peter, Mark, Russell, Steven, and Kenneth.
PeterMarkRussellStevenKennethPatrickJayKevin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Paul | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,316 | #262 |
| 2024 | 1,330 | #262 |
| 2023 | 1,359 | #256 |
| 2022 | 1,334 | #262 |
| 2021 | 1,385 | #257 |
| 2020 | 1,401 | #252 |
| 2019 | 1,513 | #245 |
| 2018 | 1,635 | #234 |
| 2017 | 1,699 | #225 |
| 2016 | 1,941 | #206 |
| 2015 | 2,032 | #199 |
| 2014 | 2,007 | #201 |
| 2013 | 2,038 | #198 |
| 2012 | 1,958 | #190 |
| 2011 | 2,078 | #186 |
| 2010 | 2,129 | #177 |
| 2009 | 2,428 | #160 |
| 2008 | 2,555 | #154 |
| 2007 | 2,771 | #147 |
| 2006 | 3,037 | #132 |
| 2005 | 3,145 | #130 |
| 2004 | 3,191 | #127 |
| 2003 | 3,256 | #123 |
| 2002 | 3,263 | #118 |
| 2001 | 3,523 | #109 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Paul?
In official American birth records, the name Paul first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 301 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Paul a popular boy name?
Paul ranked #262 among boys in 2025 with 1,316 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #199.
When was the name Paul most popular?
Paul peaked in 1957, when 27,012 American boys received the name (ranked #18 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Paul?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,368 newborn American boys was named Paul. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.