Pavel

♂ Boy

Pavel Pronunciation

Pavel is pronounced PAH-vel /ˈpɑ.vɛl/High

Meaning: Slavic form of Paul, from Latin Paulus, 'small, humble'High

In 30 seconds: Paul with a Prague accent: Pavel is the Slavic form of the apostle's 'small, humble' name — worn by tsars' sons, hockey wizards, and half of Czech literature.

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Origin HighRussian, Latin, Czech

MeaningSlavic form of Paul, from Latin Paulus, 'small, humble'

U.S. rank (2024)#3308 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births36 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,507

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Pavel is the Russian, Czech, and broader Slavic form of Paul — Latin Paulus, 'small, humble', the apostle's chosen name. It served emperors (Tsar Paul I was Pavel Petrovich), dissidents, and artists across Eastern Europe.

NHL legends Pavel Bure and Pavel Datsyuk made it a hockey password in America, where the name remains rare and Slavic-marked. Pasha, its warm Russian nickname, comes included.

Did you know? Hockey's Pavel Datsyuk was nicknamed 'the Magic Man' — deking so smoothly that highlight reels of this humble-meaning name look anything but humble.

Overall data confidence 93%

Behind the Name — Pavel — etymology

Variations

PavolPawełPasha

Nicknames

PashaPavlik

Famous Bearers

★Pavel Datsyuk (1978–present)
Russian NHL forward, two-time Stanley Cup champion nicknamed 'the Magic Man'.

If you like Pavel…

Paul— the Latin original behind the Slavic form

Ivan— the fellow bedrock Slavic classic

Marek— the Czech-Polish Mark of the same shelf

Andrei— another apostle's name in Slavic dress

→ See all names like Pavel

Browse the whole category: All Russian names → · All Latin names → · All Czech names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Pavel?

Pavel is pronounced PAH-vel (/ˈpɑ.vɛl/). Press play above to hear Pavel said aloud.

How do you say Pavel?

Pavel is said PAH-vel (/ˈpɑ.vɛl/). Press play above to hear Pavel said aloud.

What does the name Pavel mean?

Pavel is the Slavic form of Paul, from Latin Paulus, meaning 'small' or 'humble'.

Is Pavel a boy or girl name?

Pavel is a boy's name; Pavla is a feminine form.

How popular is Pavel?

Pavel is rare in the U.S. and standard across the Slavic world.