Paavali as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Paavali

What is the meaning of the name Paavali ?

The baby name Paavali is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈpɑːvɑli/ (PAA-vah-lee).

Paavali is Finnish in Origin.

Paavali is the Finnish ecclesiastical form of Paul, from Latin Paulus via Greek Pavlos, carrying the sense “small; humble.” It appears in Finnish Bible translations and church usage to name the Apostle Paul, and the traditional Finnish name day is 25 January (Paavalin päivä, the Conversion of St. Paul). The form feels formal and liturgical in Finnish, contrasting with the more colloquial Paavo and Pauli.

Documented in parish registers from the 16th century, Paavali saw use across Lutheran Finland, with periodic revivals during 19th–20th‑century interest in native forms. Today it is uncommon but recognizable and sometimes chosen for its solemn, traditional tone. Finnish variants and related forms include Paavo, Pauli, and feminine counterparts Paula and Pauliina. Cognates elsewhere include Paul (English/French), Pavel (Slavic), Pál/Pål (Hungarian/Scandinavian), Paolo (Italian), and Pablo (Spanish).