Paolo

Paolo - A very unique male name

Paolo appeared on the charts for the first time in 1961 on position #1754. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Paolo and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Paolo? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Paolo. The baby boy name Paolo was given to 45 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1791 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 32,584 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Paolo peaked in popularity 43 years ago in 1983 on position 1040.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Paolo, 1-5?

Paolo is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Paolo is currently topping the baby name charts in Florida at position #748 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #2,035.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Paolo is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Paolo origin and meaning

Italian

The Italian form of Paul — from Latin paulus, 'small, humble'

Paolo is the everyday Italian form of Paul, borne by painters, footballers and filmmakers. In America it appears from 1961 in Italian-American and international families, peaking in 2004. It is rising again in rank, part of the wider appetite for continental European names.

Attested etymology

Paolo is a 5 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Paolo, pop culture references for the name Paolo and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Paolo

We've found the following names that sound similar to Paolo, sorted by popularity.

Paul / Pablo / Phil / Paulo / Pavel / Pawel / Polo / Paula / Paola / Paublo /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Paolo

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Paolo a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Paolo?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

PAH-oh-loh · /ˈpɑoʊloʊ/
In Italian the name has three syllables (PAH-oh-loh); in English it is often compressed to two (POW-loh). The syllable table lists three, matching the Italian form.

Around the world

• Pablo (Spanish) — The Spanish form of Paul.
• Paulo (Portuguese) — The Portuguese form.
• Paul (English) — The English form.

Spellings and nicknames

• Paulo — The Portuguese spelling; a separate name.

Famous bearers

• Paolo Maldini — Italian footballer, AC Milan and Italy captain, regarded among the greatest defenders ever (b. 1968) Contemporary

Style

BiblicalInternational

Why parents choose it

Paolo is effortlessly Italian — classic, warm and international, with apostolic roots behind it. It suits families wanting Paul with continental flair.

Worth knowing

• English speakers will often compress it to 'POW-loh' and may spell it Paulo.