Saul
How to say it: SAWL · /ˈsɔl/
From Hebrew 'Sha'ul' meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for'. Old Testament king of Israel and original name of Apostle Paul.
Saul was the 537th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 535 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 10% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #533 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #537 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 535 |
| Share of births | 1 in 6,196 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −10% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #533 |
| In France, 2025 | #719 among boys’ names, 45 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Saul found its high in the 2000s and cooled afterward while staying in use. Well below that high now, it should rise a little in the next few years.
What goes with it
Quiet and breathy in a single beat, it feels strong with biblical and royal associations. Seth would sit comfortably alongside it.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Saul is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #719 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Saul
- Saul Bellow (1915–2005)Canadian-American writer
- Saul Kripke (1940–2022)American philosopher and logician
- Saul Zaentz (1921–2014)American film producer and record company executive
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Unscrupulous lawyer Saul Goodman of Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul
Keep exploring
About as popular as Saul
In the same lists
Find names you'll both love, starting with Saul
The one-minute style quiz.