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Paul

Boy name · 21,108 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Paul: 21,108 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 1,260 births in 1974.

Paul comes from the Latin *Paulus*, meaning "small" or "humble," a name adopted by early Christians in honour of the apostle Saint Paul, whose missionary journeys shaped Western Christianity. Famous bearers include Paul McCartney, the Beatle whose songwriting defined an era, and Paul Newman, the Oscar-winning actor and philanthropist. Major cities such as São Paulo in Brazil and Saint Paul in Minnesota take their names from the saint, spreading the name across continents. In Scotland, Paul has remained a steady classic since the 1970s, rarely fading from the top 50, and is one of the few names shared with a pope—six Popes have chosen it, reinforcing its enduring, understated dignity.