Boy name · Latin
Paulo
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: small, humblePaulo is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "small, humble". It is used in Portuguese.
- Meaning
- Small, humble
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #1559 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Paulo
As a boy's name, Paulo comes from Latin and means "small, humble". It is used in Portuguese.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Paulo on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Paulo on 1 list.
“Small, humble; Latin. Writer Coelho's first name”
From Brazilian names, classic Brazilian boy names
How popular is Paulo?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,559
- 110 babies, 64 per million boys
- Best rank
- #935 in 1973
- Most babies: 122 in 2006
- Babies since 1913
- At least 5,031
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 5 per million |
| 1920s | 13 per million |
| 1930s | 13 per million |
| 1940s | 9 per million |
| 1950s | 6 per million |
| 1960s | 12 per million |
| 1970s | 42 per million |
| 1980s | 34 per million |
| 1990s | 33 per million |
| 2000s | 46 per million |
| 2010s | 39 per million |
| 2020s | 58 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,182 | #2,012 | #1,757 | #2,125 | #1,618 | #1,833 | #1,779 | #1,572 | #1,606 | #1,559 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Paulo
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Paulo
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- PachoPet form of Francisco (Spanish, boy)
- PacoFrenchman (Latin, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- PaulinaSmall (Latin, girl)
- PaulaSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- PaulineSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- PaolaSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- AdvaSmall ripple (Hebrew, girl)
- BrookeSmall stream (Old English, girl)
- BrooksSmall streams (Old English, boy)
- DiyaSmall oil lamp (Hindi, girl)
- GianpaoloGod is gracious and humble (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- Jean-PaulGod is gracious, plus small (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- José PabloHe will add, small (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- Juan PabloGod is gracious, small (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- PaolinaSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
- PashaShort form of Pavel, small (Latin, boy)
- PauleSmall, humble (Latin, girl)
Middle names for Paulo
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Latin
- LeoA lion (Latin, boy)
- MaxThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- AdrianFrom Hadria (Latin, boy)
- FelixLucky, happy (Latin, boy)
- MartinDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- AugustExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- MagnusThe great (Latin, boy)
- MarcoOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MarcusOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- PatrickNobleman, patrician (Latin, boy)
- VictorThe conqueror (Latin, boy)
- VincentConquering one (Latin, boy)
- CelestinoHeavenly (Latin, boy)
- ClemensMerciful (Latin, boy)
- ConstantineConstant, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- DanteEnduring, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- EmilianoRival, striving to equal (Latin, boy)
Paulo: common questions
What does the name Paulo mean?
Paulo comes from Latin and means "small, humble".
Is Paulo a boy or girl name?
Paulo is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Paulo come from?
Paulo comes from Latin and means "small, humble". Today it is used in Portuguese.
How popular is the name Paulo?
Paulo ranked #1,559 in the US in 2025, with 110 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Paulo?
Forms of Paulo with the same meaning and origin include Pablo (Spanish), Paolo (Italian), Pau (Spanish), Paul (English) and Pavel (Russian).
What middle names go with Paulo?
Middle names that flow well with Paulo include Andrew, Archer, Carter, Cooper and Curtis. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.