Paulo

An uncommon Portuguese pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's namePortugueseRising Also a pet name
#1601 14in 2024

Meaning & Origin

Paul

Paulo is a boy's baby name of Portuguese origin, the Portuguese and Italian form of Paul, from the Latin Paulus meaning 'small' or 'humble.' It is one of the most common names in Brazil and Portugal, carried by architects (Paulo Mendes da Rocha), educators, and saints.

Paulo has a warm, rolling quality that sounds natural in Portuguese but equally at home in English. Brazilian educator Paulo Freire gave the name intellectual prestige; Brazilian architect Paulo Salave'a gave it creative distinction. A name of humble Latin roots that carries enormous cultural weight.

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Popularity Over Time

Paulo has 110+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1913.

0316192122192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Paulo
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s495
2010s734
2000s921
1990s649
1980s628
1970s689
1960s224
1950s121
1940s139
1930s140
1920s146
1910s35

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(110 years, 19132024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Paulo
YearBirthsRank
2024107#1601
2023110#1587
202293#1779
202185#1832
2020100#1616
201968#2124
201888#1756
201771#2012
201663#2181
201567#2101
201474#1955
201374#1910
201266#2086
201191#1665
201072#1951
200985#1785
200890#1704
200790#1694
2006122#1344
2005121#1281

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Paulo has two lives

Paulo, the baby name
#1601boys
4,921 babies
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Paulo, the pet name
#16471pet name
3 pets
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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19132024) · Methodology