Saul

♂ Boy

Pronounced SAWL /sɔːl/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Sha'ul, from sha'al meaning 'to ask' or 'to inquire,' giving the meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for'; the name of the first King of Israel in the Old Testament and the pre-conversion name of the Apostle PaulHigh

In 30 seconds: Saul is a weighty one-syllable Hebrew name meaning 'asked for' — borne by Israel's first king and the Apostle Paul before his conversion. Ancient, dignified, and thriving in a quiet comeback.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningFrom Hebrew Sha'ul, from sha'al meaning 'to ask' or 'to inquire,' giving the meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for'; the name of the first King of Israel in the Old Testament and the pre-conversion name of the Apostle Paul

U.S. rank (2025)#557 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births535 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2006

Total births (all-time)≈ 43,286

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Saul comes from Hebrew Sha'ul, from sha'al (to ask, to inquire), meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for.' In the Old Testament, Saul was the first King of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. In the New Testament, Saul of Tarsus — a Pharisee who persecuted early Christians — experienced a conversion on the road to Damascus and became the Apostle Paul, one of Christianity's most influential figures.

Saul has been in continuous use in Jewish communities for millennia and in the broader English-speaking world since the Reformation. In the United States it ranks in the top 200 and has been rising steadily in the 21st century, appealing both to Jewish families and to parents of all backgrounds who appreciate its one-syllable gravity and deep historical resonance. The TV series Better Call Saul also kept the name highly visible.

Did you know? On the road to Damascus, the persecutor of Christians known as Saul of Tarsus underwent a dramatic conversion and changed his name to Paul — making Saul and Paul perhaps the most famous before-and-after name pair in religious history.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Saul — etymology and biblical contextU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ShaulSol

Nicknames

Sol

Famous Bearers

★Saul Bellow (1915–2005)
Canadian-American novelist and Nobel Prize laureate, author of Herzog and Humboldt's Gift.
★Saul (biblical) (biblical)
First King of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel, father of Jonathan.

If you like Saul…

Ezra— Hebrew biblical one-or-two-syllable name with the same quiet, literary gravitas and revival momentum

Amos— Old Testament Hebrew prophet name with the same compact strength and under-used appeal

Gideon— Hebrew biblical name from the Book of Judges with the same warrior-prophet dignity

Solomon— Hebrew royal name from the same Old Testament royal lineage with the same stately weight

Frequently Asked

What does the name Saul mean?

Saul comes from Hebrew Sha'ul from sha'al (to ask), meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for.' It was the name of Israel's first king and the pre-conversion name of the Apostle Paul.

How do you pronounce Saul?

It is said SAWL — one syllable.

Is Saul a boy or girl name?

Saul is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Saul?

Saul ranks in the U.S. top 200 and has been rising, aided by strong Jewish and Latino community use and the pop-culture visibility of Better Call Saul.