Fun Facts About the Name Pau
- 454 babies named Pau: U.S. records list 454 babies given the name Pau from 1880 through 2025. Even 23 girls received the name Pau - about 1 girl for every 19 boys.
What Does the Name Pau Mean?
Pau is the Catalan and Occitan form of the masculine name Paul. It comes from the Latin Paulus, a Roman family name based on paulus, meaning "small" or "little." The literal Latin sense is smallness; "humble" is a customary explanation of the name's significance rather than a separate etymology.
The name entered Christian usage through Saint Paul, the apostle, whose Latin name was Paulus (Greek Paulos). In Catalan, pau is also the ordinary word for "peace," from Latin pax, but that noun is a separate word; the personal name Pau is the Paul form. The feminine counterpart is Paula.
Pau Name History & Origins
Paulus was a Roman cognomen or family name before it became a common Christian given name. As it passed into the Romance languages, it took forms including Catalan and Occitan Pau, French Paul, Spanish Pablo, and Italian Paolo. The Catalan form is the local development of Latin Paulus; the Occitan form has the same origin and spelling.
The name's use in Catalan-speaking regions is connected with the Christian veneration of Saint Paul, whose feast is celebrated on June 29 with Saint Peter. Pau is a traditional masculine given name in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands, with Paula as the corresponding feminine form. In Occitan-speaking southern France, Pau also appears as a masculine given name.
How Popular is the Name Pau?
Pau has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2018. Its best rank was #2,927 in 2018.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16,672 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #14,867 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #16,928 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #13,750 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,353 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #4,510 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2023 | #5,195 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #4,159 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2021 | #4,734 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2020 | #4,663 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #3,546 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2018 | #2,927 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2017 | #3,426 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2016 | #4,281 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2015 | #3,960 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2014 | #4,358 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #4,572 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #3,778 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #4,619 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #5,414 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2009 | #6,341 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #8,137 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #13,880 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2003 | #12,261 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #7,656 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Pau Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Pau's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Pau's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.