# Paul

/ˈpɔɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paul
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning 'small' or 'humble'.

- My friend Paul is coming over for dinner tonight.
- The name Paul remains a classic choice for parents, maintaining its popularity across several generations in many English-speaking countries.

### 2. biblical figure

noun · CEFR B1

a famous leader in the early Christian church who wrote many books of the New Testament.

For teachers: the Apostle Paul, a significant figure in the New Testament known for his missionary journeys and epistles.

- In Sunday school, the children learned about the travels of Paul.
- Scholars often debate the specific chronology of the letters attributed to Paul within the context of early Christian history.

## Examples

- My friend Paul lives in London.
- The manager asked Paul to lead the meeting because of his experience with the client.
- While the name Paul has seen a decline in popularity in recent decades, it remains a staple of Western nomenclature due to its deep historical and religious roots.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.