Paulo
Boy name · #1556 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
In 2025, 110 baby boys were named Paulo, placing it at #1556 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2086, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,364 boys born in 2025 was named Paulo.
The 112-year story
Paulo first appears in the Social Security records in 1913, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 122 boys were named Paulo — good for #1339 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Babies named Paulo per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Paulo against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Paulo in class?
Paulo scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Paulo is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paulo is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Paulos were TX (30), CA (23), IL (5), PA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Paulo
Statistically, parents drawn to Paulo tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Paolo, Mauro, Saulo, Pablo, and Gonzalo.
PaoloMauroSauloPabloGonzaloLazaroMarkoPrice
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Paulo | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 110 | #1554 |
| 2024 | 107 | #1599 |
| 2023 | 111 | #1567 |
| 2022 | 93 | #1771 |
| 2021 | 85 | #1823 |
| 2020 | 100 | #1609 |
| 2019 | 68 | #2110 |
| 2018 | 88 | #1744 |
| 2017 | 71 | #2003 |
| 2016 | 63 | #2167 |
| 2015 | 67 | #2086 |
| 2014 | 74 | #1945 |
| 2013 | 74 | #1903 |
| 2012 | 66 | #2066 |
| 2011 | 91 | #1656 |
| 2010 | 72 | #1940 |
| 2009 | 85 | #1774 |
| 2008 | 90 | #1692 |
| 2007 | 90 | #1681 |
| 2006 | 122 | #1339 |
| 2005 | 121 | #1280 |
| 2004 | 89 | #1502 |
| 2003 | 88 | #1478 |
| 2002 | 90 | #1433 |
| 2001 | 77 | #1564 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Paulo a popular boy name?
Paulo ranked #1556 among boys in 2025 with 110 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2086.
When was the name Paulo most popular?
Paulo peaked in 2006, when 122 American boys received the name (ranked #1339 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Paulo?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,364 newborn American boys was named Paulo. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.