Paw
A diminutive of the English word "paw" referring to an animal's foot.
Name Census estimates that about 253 living Americans carry the first name Paw. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Paw today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Paw births was 2016 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Paw. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
253
~ 1 in 1,354,760 Americans
Peak year
2016
26 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,801
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Paw: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Paw from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 181 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Paw remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Paw by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Paw during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Paws live
Origin
Meaning and history of Paw
The given name Paw is believed to have originated from the Thai language, where it means 'forest' or 'jungle'. It is derived from the ancient Khmer word 'pur', which had a similar meaning. This name has been in use in Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia for several centuries.
In the 13th century, the name Paw was mentioned in the Ramakien, a Thai epic that is based on the Indian Ramayana. It was the name of a character who was a guardian of the forest. This suggests that the name has been in use in Thailand since at least the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Paw is Paw Tun (1516-1581), a Burmese prince and diplomat who served as the governor of Toungoo, a city in present-day Myanmar. He played a significant role in the unification of Burma during the 16th century.
Another notable figure in history with the name Paw was Paw Bu Nga (1823-1867), a Burmese prince and politician who served as the governor of Pegu (modern-day Bago) during the reign of King Mindon Min. He was known for his efforts to modernize and develop the region.
In the 20th century, Paw Oo Tun (1901-1980) was a prominent Burmese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs during the government of U Nu. He played a crucial role in the independence movement of Burma and was instrumental in the country's transition to democracy.
Paw Wah (1924-2016) was a renowned Burmese artist and painter who was best known for his depictions of traditional Burmese life and culture. His works are celebrated for their vibrant colors and intricate details, and he is considered one of the most influential artists in Burma's modern history.
Paw Lwin (born 1963) is a contemporary Burmese artist and activist who has gained recognition for his politically charged paintings and installations. His work often addresses issues of human rights, democracy, and the struggle for freedom in Burma, making him a prominent figure in the country's contemporary art scene.
People
Paw + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Paw as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Paw: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Paw?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 253 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Paw going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,354,760 US residents.
Is Paw a common name?
We classify Paw as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 255 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Paw most popular?
The single biggest year for Paw was 2016, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Paw is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Paw a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Paw in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.