Saul
Boy name · #557 in 2025 · Distinctive
In 2025, 535 baby boys were named Saul, placing it at #557 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #494, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,364 boys born in 2025 was named Saul.
The 145-year story
Saul first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 15 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 1,120 boys were named Saul — good for #298 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 Saul per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Saul against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Saul in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Saul 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 Saul is most common
Geography matters for names, and Saul is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Saul is most common in AZ (1 per 1,000), CA (0.7 per 1,000), TX (0.6 per 1,000), AL (0.5 per 1,000), NJ (0.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Saul is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Saul
Statistically, parents drawn to Saul tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Raul, Johnpaul, Seth, Andy, and Emanuel.
RaulJohnpaulSethAndyEmanuelUrielJakeMisael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Saul | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 535 | #557 |
| 2024 | 531 | #559 |
| 2023 | 515 | #568 |
| 2022 | 581 | #512 |
| 2021 | 513 | #556 |
| 2020 | 484 | #575 |
| 2019 | 538 | #532 |
| 2018 | 534 | #531 |
| 2017 | 605 | #484 |
| 2016 | 560 | #526 |
| 2015 | 592 | #494 |
| 2014 | 664 | #449 |
| 2013 | 656 | #438 |
| 2012 | 690 | #414 |
| 2011 | 715 | #399 |
| 2010 | 761 | #379 |
| 2009 | 867 | #356 |
| 2008 | 999 | #329 |
| 2007 | 1,070 | #308 |
| 2006 | 1,120 | #298 |
| 2005 | 1,113 | #295 |
| 2004 | 1,104 | #289 |
| 2003 | 1,072 | #291 |
| 2002 | 1,028 | #289 |
| 2001 | 1,103 | #278 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Saul a popular boy name?
Saul ranked #557 among boys in 2025 with 535 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #494.
When was the name Saul most popular?
Saul peaked in 2006, when 1,120 American boys received the name (ranked #298 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Saul?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,364 newborn American boys was named Saul. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it 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.