Paul

Small; little.

Paul goes back to the Roman name Paulus, meaning ‘small’ or ‘little’. Its Christian history is closely linked with the apostle Paul, and the exact spelling has been used for centuries: it appears in German records from 1404 and French records from 1418. The firm opening p and softer final l make Paul feel direct and grounded. English, German and French retain the same four letters but give the middle a different sound: English /pɔːl/, German /paʊ̯l/ and French /pɔl/. That combination of a shared written form and distinct local voices is part of its appeal. It suits a preference for traditional names with little ornament.

Etymology: Paul comes from the Roman name Paulus, from Latin paulus, ‘small’ or ‘little’. Its place in Christian naming is closely associated with the apostle Paul.