Polo
A boy's name of Italian origin with 589 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Italian or Spanish
Polo is a boy's baby name of Italian origin, a diminutive of Paolo (Paul) — from the Latin Paulus, meaning 'small' or 'humble.' The name is forever associated with Marco Polo, the 13th-century Venetian explorer whose journeys to Asia opened the East to the Western world. The luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren's Polo line has also kept the name in the cultural consciousness.
Polo carries the spirit of adventure and worldly sophistication — a name for a child destined to explore far beyond the horizon of everything that's been mapped before.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Polo's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Polo softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Polo's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Polo was #8012 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #8144, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 72 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 106 | — |
| 2000s | 116 | — |
| 1990s | 121 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 42 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 30 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 19 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 22 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 44 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 12 | — |
The Story of Polo
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2001, Polo is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Polo are most likely born between 1991 and 2011.
How rare is Polo?
Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Polo — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1917, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1990s with 121 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Polo by the numbers
- Would fill 12 school buses
- Meeting one Polo per day would take 1.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(61 years, 1917–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | #8144 |
| 2023 | 15 | #6146 |
| 2022 | 14 | #6388 |
| 2021 | 14 | #6257 |
| 2020 | 19 | #4988 |
| 2019 | 11 | #7503 |
| 2018 | 5 | #13613 |
| 2017 | 6 | #11846 |
| 2016 | 11 | #7483 |
| 2015 | 8 | #9358 |
| 2014 | 6 | #11775 |
| 2013 | 10 | #7953 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5435 |
| 2011 | 18 | #5142 |
| 2010 | 14 | #6291 |
| 2009 | 12 | #7128 |
| 2008 | 8 | #9634 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8735 |
| 2006 | 14 | #6018 |
| 2005 | 6 | #11120 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Polo a boy's or girl's name?
When was Polo most popular?
How popular is the name Polo?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1917–2024