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Paulo Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Paulo

Pronunciation: POW-loo / PAW-loh

Meaning Small; humble Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,559
TREND
42
Peak Years
2006, 2005, 2023
Lowest Years
1915, 1916, 1920
Energy Archetype
Intellectual & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Paulo in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Paulo

  • More than 5 thousand babies named Paulo: U.S. records list 5,031 babies given the name Paulo from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Paulo Mean?

Paulo is the Portuguese form of Paul. It comes from the Latin name Paulus, a Roman family name (cognomen) derived from the Latin adjective paulus, meaning "small" or "little." The literal sense is "small"; the customary Christian gloss "humble" is a later interpretation tied to the apostle Paul, not a separate etymology. The Greek New Testament form Παῦλος (Paulos) is a Greek rendering of the Latin name, and it is the form used for the apostle. Portuguese Paulo developed from Latin Paulus by the regular replacement of the Latin ending -us with -o. Related Romance forms include Spanish Pablo and Italian Paolo.

Paulo Name History & Origins

The Latin name Paulus was used as a Roman cognomen before the Christian era. Its best-known early Christian bearer is the apostle Paul, a Jewish man from Tarsus who was also called Saul. The New Testament book of Acts calls him Saulos and then Paulos, and his letters circulated under the Greek form Παῦλος. As Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, the name Paulus was adopted by Christians in Greek- and Latin-speaking communities. From Latin it passed into the Romance languages; in Portuguese the regular outcome is Paulo, the form used for the apostle in Portuguese Bibles and liturgy. The name is also found in Galician. It is distinct from Spanish Pablo and Italian Paolo, which descend from the same Latin source by different phonetic paths.

How Popular is the Name Paulo?

Paulo recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2006. Its best rank was #935 in 1973.

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 Paulo 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.

✦ Paulo's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Paulo's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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