Paul
Boy name · #262 in 2025 · Uniqueness 51/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Paul scores 51 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 Paul is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paul is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Pauls were TX (132), CA (120), NY (83), FL (63), OH (59). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 51/100 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.