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Paulo

♂ Boy

Pronounced POW-loo /ˈpaʊ.lu/Medium

Meaning: Portuguese form of Paul, from Latin Paulus meaning "small, humble"Medium

In 30 seconds: Paulo is the Portuguese form of Paul, from the Latin Paulus, meaning 'small' or 'humble'.

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Origin MediumPortuguese, Galician

MeaningPortuguese form of Paul, from Latin Paulus meaning "small, humble"

U.S. rank (2025)#1559 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births110 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2006

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,031

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Paulo carries the Latin Paulus into Portuguese, keeping its old meaning of 'small' or 'humble'. The name spread widely with the Christian tradition and the influence of Saint Paul, and it is common across Portugal and Brazil. Its meaning gives it a modest, grounded character.

The Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, born in 1947 and known worldwide for The Alchemist, is among its best-known bearers. The name relates to Paulus, its Latin parent, and to short forms like Pal and Pali.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Paulo is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Paulo — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

PàuloPalPaliPavliPaulus

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Paulo Coelho (b. 1947)
Brazilian author best known for the international bestseller The Alchemist.

If you like Paulo…

Paul— The base name Paulo translates into Portuguese, from Latin Paulus.

Pablo— The Spanish form of Paul from the same Latin root.

Paolo— The Italian form of the same name, with the same 'humble' meaning.

Davi— a fellow Portuguese choice

Iam— a fellow Portuguese choice

Explore names like Paulo

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Paulo mean?

Paulo is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Portuguese tradition.

How do you pronounce Paulo?

It's commonly said POW-loo /ˈpaʊ.lu/.

Is Paulo a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Paulo is used as a boy name.

How popular is Paulo?

In 2024, Paulo ranked #1601 in the U.S. for boys, with 107 births recorded.