When was Paul most popular?

The name Paul reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Paul Gale?

The name Paul Gale combines two different traditions: the first name Paul has Latin roots, while the surname Gale originates from Welsh.

Paul Gale — 1.4 million & 16K bearers

Paul Gale is a name that combines Latin origins. The first name Paul is a masculine given name of Latin origin. From the Latin Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." The apostle Paul was the most influential early Christian missionary. The surname Gale: Andrew Gale (born 1983), British cricketer Anthony Gale (died 1843), fourth commandant of the United States Marine Corps Bob Gale (born 1951), motion picture screenwriter Bob Gale (cricketer) (1933–2018), English cricketer Brendon Gale (born 1968), Australian rules footballer Colin Gale (1932–2008), Welsh footballer David Gale (1921–2008), mathematician David Gale (actor) (1936–1991), British actor Ed Gale (1963–2025), American actor and stunt performer Eddie Gale (1941–2020), American trumpeter Eddra Gale (1921–2001), American actress and singer Eric Gale (1938–1994), American jazz and sessio. Paul is one of the most widespread first names worldwide, carried by approximately 1.4 million people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Paul reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Paul

Meaning: humble

Latin

From the Latin Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." The apostle Paul was the most influential early Christian missionary.

Surname: Gale

Welsh

Andrew Gale (born 1983), British cricketer Anthony Gale (died 1843), fourth commandant of the United States Marine Corps Bob Gale (born 1951), motion picture screenwriter Bob Gale (cricketer) (1933–2018), English cricketer Brendon Gale (born 1968), Australian rules footballer Colin Gale (1932–2008), Welsh footballer David Gale (1921–2008), mathematician David Gale (actor) (1936–1991), British actor Ed Gale (1963–2025), American actor and stunt performer Eddie Gale (1941–2020), American trumpeter Eddra Gale (1921–2001), American actress and singer Eric Gale (1938–1994), American jazz and sessio.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Paul is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 34%

Italy 15%

Spain 12%

Brazil 17%

France 10%

Mexico 12%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Paul by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Name Variants & Related Names

The name Paul has several variants and related forms across different languages and cultures:

Paolo
Pablo
Pavel
Paulus
Pol

Notable People Named Paul Gale

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Paul Gale:

3

Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

1

Soul Urge Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

2

Personality Number

Cooperation and sensitivity. A diplomatic, gentle nature with strong empathy, thriving in partnerships and harmony.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Paul?: The first name Paul originates from Latin. From the Latin Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." The apostle Paul was the most influential early Christian missionary.
When was Paul most popular?: The name Paul reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Gale?: The surname Gale originates from Welsh. Andrew Gale (born 1983), British cricketer Anthony Gale (died 1843), fourth commandant of the United States Marine Corps Bob Gale (born 1951), motion picture screenwriter Bob Gale (cricketer) (1933–2018), English cricketer Brendon Gale (born 1968), Australian rules footballer Colin Gale (1932–2008), Welsh footballer David Gale (1921–2008), mathematician David Gale (actor) (1936–1991), British actor Ed Gale (1963–2025), American actor and stunt performer Eddie Gale (1941–2020), American trumpeter Eddra Gale (1921–2001), American actress and singer Eric Gale (1938–1994), American jazz and sessio.
What are the origins of the name Paul Gale?: The name Paul Gale combines two different traditions: the first name Paul has Latin roots, while the surname Gale originates from Welsh.