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How Many People Are Named Paul?
Estimated people named Paul living in the U.S. today
849,860
Gender distribution
100% male · 0% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 1,402,786
- Peak year: 1957 (27,075 births)
- Estimated living today: 849,860
Paul by age group — who carries the name today?
Paul popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Paul
Paul has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 1,402,786 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 849,860 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 402 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Pauls you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Paul in the US?
An estimated 849,860 people named Paul are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Paul common — about 1 in 402 Americans.
Is Paul a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Paul is 100% male and 0% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Paul most popular?
Paul peaked in 1957, when 27,075 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Paul?
Paul ranks #32 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 31 out of 100 (higher means rarer).