Paul — Boy name popularity
2025 rank #262 · peak #12 (1916) · 1,398,293 babies all-time
Paul is a boys' name that, in 2025, was ranked #262 (1,316 babies) in the United States, according to the Social Security Administration. Its all-time peak was #12 in 1916 (10,790 babies). Across the years tracked here it has been given to about 1,398,293 babies. Paul is far below its peak and has become less common. The table below shows Paul's SSA rank and birth count year by year. (We report only counts SSA publishes; years where the name fell below SSA's 5-baby threshold show no count.)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names. Data as of SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026.
Paul popularity over time
Rank and number of boys named Paul per year, from SSA national data. Recent years are shown individually; earlier history is shown at decade points back to 1880.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #262 | 1,316 |
| 2024 | #262 | 1,330 |
| 2023 | #256 | 1,359 |
| 2022 | #262 | 1,334 |
| 2021 | #257 | 1,385 |
| 2020 | #252 | 1,401 |
| 2019 | #245 | 1,513 |
| 2018 | #234 | 1,635 |
| 2017 | #225 | 1,699 |
| 2016 | #206 | 1,941 |
| 2015 | #200 | 2,032 |
| 2014 | #201 | 2,007 |
| 2013 | #198 | 2,038 |
| 2012 | #190 | 1,958 |
| 2011 | #186 | 2,078 |
| 2010 | #177 | 2,129 |
| 2009 | #160 | 2,428 |
| 2008 | #154 | 2,555 |
| 2007 | #147 | 2,771 |
| 2006 | #132 | 3,037 |
| 2005 | #130 | 3,145 |
| 2004 | #127 | 3,191 |
| 2003 | #123 | 3,256 |
| 2002 | #118 | 3,263 |
| 2001 | #109 | 3,523 |
| 2000 | #100 | 3,795 |
| 1999 | #94 | 4,020 |
| 1998 | #89 | 4,321 |
| 1997 | #79 | 4,752 |
| 1996 | #78 | 4,883 |
| 1990 | #49 | 8,579 |
| 1980 | #35 | 11,819 |
| 1970 | #23 | 20,196 |
| 1960 | #18 | 25,642 |
| 1950 | #18 | 21,742 |
| 1940 | #17 | 14,097 |
| 1930 | #12 | 12,955 |
| 1920 | #14 | 12,570 |
| 1910 | #15 | 2,005 |
| 1900 | #19 | 1,288 |
| 1890 | #31 | 607 |
| 1880 | #60 | 301 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names. Data as of SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026.
Key facts
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Sex | Boy |
| 2025 rank | #262 |
| 2025 babies | 1,316 |
| Peak rank | #12 (1916) |
| Peak-year babies | 10,790 |
| First tracked year | 1880 |
| All-time babies (tracked years) | 1,398,293 |
Similar in popularity (2025)
| Boy name | 2025 rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Louis | #249 | 1,391 |
| Lane | #250 | 1,383 |
| Walter | #252 | 1,381 |
| Brandon | #261 | 1,326 |
| Steven | #271 | 1,261 |
| Eric | #273 | 1,256 |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Paul for boys?
In 2025, Paul was the 262nd most popular boys' name in the US, given to 1,316 babies, per the Social Security Administration. Its all-time peak was #12 in 1916 (10,790 babies).
When was Paul most popular?
For boys, Paul peaked at rank #12 in 1916 (10,790 babies). The first year it appears in SSA data (within our tracked years) is 1880. It has been given to about 1,398,293 babies in total across the years we track.
Is Paul a boy or girl name?
In the SSA data we track, Paul appears predominantly as a boys' name; it does not have a separate ranked entry for girls in our dataset.
Keep exploring
Source
U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names, national data 1880–2025. SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026. Public domain (U.S. Government). SSA has no name meanings or origins; this page presents only popularity data. See our methodology.
Last updated: 2026-06-22