Find out how popular the first name Pavel has been for the last 47 years (from 1977 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Pavel by gender

Based on the last 47 years of data, Pavel is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 32 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Pavel.

The history of the first name Pavel

Pavel is a masculine given name derived from the Latin name Paulus, which means "small" or "humble" and is the origin of names like Paul and Pablo. The name first appeared in the Slavic languages, particularly Russian, and has been in use since at least the 10th century.

In the Cyrillic alphabet, the name is written as ??????????. It became popular in Eastern Europe and Russia due to the influence of Christianity and the spread of the name through biblical figures like St. Paul the Apostle. Over time, it evolved into various forms in different Slavic languages, such as Pavel in Russian, Polish, and Czech, Pavle in Serbian and Croatian, and Pavol in Slovak.

The earliest recorded example of the name Pavel is found in the Primary Chronicle, an early East Slavic chronicle dating back to the 12th century. It mentions a Prince Pavel, who was the son of Prince Svyatoslav I of Kiev.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pavel. One of the earliest was Pavel Florinsky (1619-1699), a Russian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of Russian science.

Another famous Pavel was Pavel Nakhimov (1802-1855), a Russian naval commander who played a crucial role in the Crimean War and is considered one of the greatest naval heroes in Russian history.

In the arts, Pavel Tretyakov (1832-1898) was a Russian businessman and art collector who founded the Tretyakov Gallery, one of the world's largest and most renowned collections of Russian art.

In the 20th century, Pavel Filonov (1883-1941) was a Russian avant-garde painter known for his unique style and philosophical approach to art.

More recently, Pavel Bure (born 1971) is a former Russian professional ice hockey player who was one of the most prolific goal scorers in the NHL during the 1990s and is considered one of the greatest Russian players in the history of the league.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Pavel throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance in various cultures and fields.

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 Pavel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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