Fun Facts About the Name Paulin

  • 15 babies named Paulin: U.S. records list 15 babies given the name Paulin from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Paulin Mean?

Paulin comes from the Latin Paulinus, a name formed from Paulus with the suffix -inus. Paulus means "small" or "humble," and the longer form was originally a Roman family name (cognomen), often treated as a diminutive, so its literal sense is roughly "little Paul" or simply "small." Paulin is chiefly the French vernacular form of Paulinus, and it is the spelling used in French for Saint Paulin, the Latin Paulinus of Nola. Related names such as Paul, Pauline, and Paulina grew from the same Latin root but are separate forms with their own histories.

Paulin Name History & Origins

The Latin Paulinus was carried by several figures of Roman and early Christian times, and this is how the name survived into medieval Europe. Paulinus of Nola, a fifth-century bishop and Latin poet, is among the best known; Paulinus of Aquileia was an eighth-century churchman and scholar; and Paulinus of York was a Roman missionary who became the first bishop of York and took part in the Christian mission to Northumbria in the early seventh century. Churches dedicated to these saints helped keep the name alive.

From the Latin, French developed the everyday form Paulin, the spelling used for Saint Paulin of Nola in French. It continued in use in France in later centuries, and it also appears in German-speaking parts of Europe and in other European regions. The feminine forms Pauline and Paulina and the short English Paul share the same Latin source, but each followed a separate course.

How Popular is the Name Paulin?

Paulin 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 1994. Its best rank was #5,771 in 1994.

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.

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 Paulin 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 a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.

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