Pauly first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Pauly has been for the last 4 years (from 2019 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Pauly

A diminutive form of the masculine name Paul, derived from Latin Paulus meaning "small" or "humble".

Popularity of Pauly by gender

Based on the last 4 years of data, Pauly is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Pauly.

Year Male Count Female Count
2022 5 0
2019 6 0

The history of the first name Pauly

The name Pauly is a diminutive form of the male given name Paul, which has its origins in the ancient Roman family name Paulus. The name Paulus itself is derived from the Latin word "paulus," meaning "small" or "humble." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone of small stature or humble beginnings.

The name Paul gained significant importance in the Christian tradition, as it was the name adopted by the apostle formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. After his conversion, he became one of the most influential figures in the early spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. The name Paul is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament, particularly in the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline epistles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the diminutive form Pauly can be found in medieval German records, where it was commonly used as a nickname or shortened version of Paul. This variation gained popularity in various regions of Europe, particularly in German-speaking areas.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pauly. One prominent example is Pauly Shore (born 1968), an American actor and comedian known for his roles in films such as "Encino Man" and "Son in Law." Another well-known Pauly is Pauly D (born 1980), an American television personality and DJ best known for his appearance on the reality show "Jersey Shore."

In the realm of literature, Pauly Karp (1922-2016) was an American author and playwright, renowned for his plays "The Derelicts" and "The Burglar." The world of sports has also seen notable figures with the name Pauly, such as Pauly Perrault (1919-2009), a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s.

Another individual worth mentioning is Pauly Ellering (born 1926), an American professional wrestler and manager who gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s as part of the tag team "The Blond Bombers" and later as a manager for various wrestlers.

While these are just a few examples, the name Pauly has been present throughout history, spanning various cultures and professions, reflecting its enduring appeal and versatility as a diminutive form of the more traditional name Paul.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Pauly was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pauly, please contact us.

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"Pauly first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/pauly-meaning-and-history/.

"Pauly first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/pauly-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 July, 2025

Pauly first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/pauly-meaning-and-history/.

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