Paul (given name)


Paul is a common Latin masculine given name in countries and ethnicities with a Christian heritage and, beyond Europe, in Christian religious communities throughout the world. Paul – or its variations – can be a given name or surname.

Origin and diffusion

The name has existed since Roman times. It derives from the Roman family name Paulus or Paullus, from the Latin adjective meaning "small", "humble", "least" or "little". During the Classical Age it was used to distinguish the minor of two people of the same family bearing the same name. The Roman patrician family of the Gens Aemilia included such prominent persons as Lucius Aemilius Paullus, Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus, Tertia Aemilia Paulla, and Sergius Paulus.
Its prevalence in nations with a Christian heritage is primarily due to its attachment to Saint Paul the Apostle, whose Greek name was Παῦλος, Paûlos, a transliteration from the Latin, also carrying the "modest" meaning of this name, and chosen because of its similarity to his Jewish name Šaul. The name Paul is common, with variations, in all European languages.
Paul's popularity has varied. In the United States, the 1990 census shows it ranked the 13th most common name; however, Social Security Administration data shows Paul in the top 20 given names in 1968, after which it began a steady decline.
The feminine versions are Paula, Pauline, Paulina, and Paulette.

Transliterations

Notable examples

Mononym

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  • Paul Xander, American artist

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Fictional characters

  • Paul, a three-eyed monkey who was the mascot for the production company, DNA Productions
  • Paul, a character in The Edison Twins
  • Paul, a character in the 1937 American romantic comedy movie She Married an Artist
  • Paul, a character in the 1969 French romantic drama movie Love Is a Funny Thing
  • Paul, the main character in the 1975 French drama film The Story of Paul
  • Paul, a character in the 1977 movie Pete's Dragon
  • Paul, a character in the 1981 American slasher movie The Prowler
  • Paul, a character in the 1984 American 3D slasher movie Silent Madness
  • Paul, the main character in the 1984 Television Special The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine
  • Paul, a character in the 1988 American drama movie Another Woman
  • Paul, a character in the 1988 American science-fiction horror movie Pulse
  • Paul, character in the 1990 American crime thriller film movie The Grifters
  • Paul, a character in the 1994 Hong Kong romantic comedy film He's a Woman, She's a Man
  • Paul, a character in the 1998 American sitcom Two of a Kind
  • Paul, a character in the 2000 American comedy film The Photographer
  • Paul, a character is a 2000 American romantic comedy movie Enemies of Laughter
  • Paul, a character in the 2000 American romantic comedy-drama movie High Fidelity
  • Paul, a character in the 2001 American comedy-drama movie Lovely & Amazing
  • Paul, a character in the 2003 American romantic comedy movie My Boss's Daughter
  • Paul, a character in the 2004 American comedy movie Connie and Carla
  • Paul, a character in the 2004 American science fiction disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow
  • Paul, a character in the 2004 movie The Blackwater Lightship
  • Paul, one of the two main characters in the 2004 Irish buddy comedy drama movie Adam & Paul
  • Paul, a character played by Rick Howland in the 2007 movie The Roommate
  • Paul, a character played by Samuel L. Jackson in the 2009 American drama movie Mother and Child
  • Paul, the real name of Don Paolo from Professor Layton
  • Paul, a character in the 2009 American romantic comedy-drama movie 500 Days of Summer
  • Paul, the main character in the 2011 self titled movie
  • Paul, a recurring character in the 2011 television series American Horror Story
  • Paul, a character in the 2012 American independent feature movie California Solo
  • Paul, a character in the 2013 coming-of-age movie Puppylove
  • Paul, a character in the 2013 movie Shockwave
  • Paul, a character in the 2016 American-Canadian science fiction movie A.R.C.H.I.E.
  • Paul, a character in the Japanese anime series Pokémon anime and Diamond and Pearl
  • Paul, a character in the British flash-animated web series Eddsworld
  • Paul, a character in the 2020 psychological drama movie The Father
  • Paul, a character in the movie 2021 American anthology horror movie Bad Candy
  • Paul, a character in the 2023 independent movie Close to You
  • Paul, a character in the 2023 American action comedy movie Mafia Mamma
  • Paul Anders, a character in the 1982 Australian movie Turkey Shoot
  • Paul Andrews, a character in the 1989 American science-fiction drama movie Beyond the Stars
  • Dr. Paul Ashurst, in the British television crime drama Dalziel and Pascoe
  • Paul Atreides, a character in the Dune universe
  • Paul Bearer, professional wrestling alias of William Moody
  • Dr. Paul Bearer, a character host of 1973 TV horror movie series Creature Feature
  • Paul Blaine, a character in the 1986 American-British made-for-television syndicated comedy fantasy horror movie The Canterville Ghost
  • Capt. Paul Block, in the American sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?
  • Paul Blofis, a character in Percy Jackson & the Olympians
  • Paul Bongard, a character in the 1971 American comedy-drama movie B.S. I Love You
  • Mr. Paul Bracken, in the TV sitcom Herman's Head
  • Paul Buchman, the main character in the American television sitcom Mad About You
  • Paul Callan, the main character in the 2003 TV series Miracles
  • Paul Clarke (character) from the Henderson's Boys spy novel series by Robert Muchamore
  • Paul Clayton and Paul Connor characters from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street
  • Paul Coker and Paul Priestly, in the BBC soap opera EastEnders
  • Paul Clough and Paul Collins, in the British television soap opera Brookside
  • Paul Cramer, in the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live
  • Paul Dawson, played by Michael Buie in the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy
  • Paul Davenport, played by John Heard in the 1988 American fantasy comedy-drama movie Big
  • Sgt. Paul Davidson, a character in the 2001 thriller movie Good Neighbor
  • Paul Dewey, a character played by James LeGros in the 2007 movie Cough Drop
  • Paul Drake (character), a private detective in the Perry Mason novels and TV series
  • Paul Duncan, a fictional blind musician in the Pluto manga and anime series
  • Paul Eastman, in the television series Ghost Whisperer
  • Paul Eckert, a character in the 1956 Austrian comedy movie And Who Is Kissing Me?
  • Paul Forrester, the main character in the American science fiction television series Starman
  • Paul Freedman, in Halloween (1978), Halloween (2007)
  • Paul Germani, a character in the American crime drama television series The Sopranos
  • Paul Greebie, a recurring character in the Canadian television series Life with Derek
  • Paul Hennessy, played by John Ritter in the American sitcom 8 Simple Rules
  • Paul Hinkle, a character on the Canadian TV show Caillou
  • Paul Holden, a character in the 1967 coming-of-age novel The Outsiders
  • Paul Hornsby, in the American daytime television soap opera General Hospital
  • Paul Hunham, a character in the 2023 film The Holdovers
  • Sgt. Paul Jackson, a playable character in the video game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Paul Kellerman, in the American television series Prison Break
  • Paul Kessler, a character in the 1991 American mystery movie Liebestraum
  • Paul Kinsey, in the American television series Mad Men
  • Paul Krapence, a character in the American sitcom television series Cheers
  • Paul Lahote, a character in the Twilight novel series Twilight Saga
  • Paul "Polo" Loman, a character in the Jaws movie franchise
  • Paul Marsden (Emmerdale), in the British television soap opera Emmerdale
  • Paul Matthews, the titular character of The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals by Team StarKid
  • Paul Martin (All My Children), in the American soap opera All My Children
  • Paul Martin, on the American television series Lassie
  • Paul McClain and Paul Robinson, on the Australian soap opera Neighbours
  • Paul McQue / Kick-Ass II, in the British comic book series Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl
  • Paul Narita, on the American soap opera Days of Our Lives
  • Paul Patten or the Fox, a superhero in MLJ Comics and DC comics
  • Paul Joshua Pfeiffer, in the American television series The Wonder Years
  • Paul Phoenix, from the Tekken franchise
  • Mayor Paul Randolph, a character in the American comedy-drama television series Ginny & Georgia
  • Paul Ryan, on the American soap opera As the World Turns
  • Paul Sheldon, main character in Stephen King's Misery and its film adaptation
  • Paul Spector, the main character in the Irish TV series The Fall
  • Paul Stark, the main character played by Jeffrey Tambor in the 1986 television series Mr. Sunshine (1986 TV series)
  • Paul the Refugee Lad, a character in the 1947 American drama movie The Return of Rin Tin Tin
  • Paul Tomlinson, the main character in the 1991 American movie Victim of Love
  • Paul Torres, in the television series The Following
  • Paul Trueman, on the British BBC soap opera EastEnders
  • Paul Truman, in the American sitcom Will & Grace
  • Paul Warren, a character in the 1980 American disaster movie The Night the Bridge Fell Down
  • Paul Williams, on the American soap opera The Young and the Restless
  • Paul Varjak, in Breakfast at Tiffany's
  • Paul Young, on the American television series ''Desperate Housewives''