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Paolo as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Paolo

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The baby name Paolo is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced Italian: /ˈpaːolo/ (PAH-oh-lo); English approximations: /ˈpaʊloʊ/ or /ˈpɑːloʊ/ (PAW-lo / PAH-lo).

Paolo is Italian in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: Italian: /ˈpaːolo/ (PAH-oh-lo); English approximations: /ˈpaʊloʊ/ or /ˈpɑːloʊ/ (PAW-lo / PAH-lo)

What is the meaning of the name Paolo ?

The baby name Paolo is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced Italian: /ˈpaːolo/ (PAH-oh-lo); English approximations: /ˈpaʊloʊ/ or /ˈpɑːloʊ/ (PAW-lo / PAH-lo).

Paolo is Italian in Origin.

Paolo is the standard Italian form of Paul, from Latin Paulus, meaning “small” or “humble.” It entered Italian through early Christian usage linked to Saint Paul the Apostle, whose writings shaped Western Christianity; numerous popes named Paul further reinforced its prestige on the peninsula. The name has been consistently familiar in Italy, peaking in the mid-20th century and remaining classic rather than trendy today, especially in Italy, San Marino, and Italian-speaking Switzerland.

International equivalents include Paul (English, French, German), Paulo (Portuguese), Pablo (Spanish), Pau (Catalan), Pavel (Slavic languages and Romanian), Pál (Hungarian), Pól/Pòl (Irish and Scottish Gaelic), and the feminine Paola. Italian diminutives and affectionate forms include Paolino and Paoluccio, with nicknames like Pao. Notable bearers span the arts and sports: Renaissance painters Paolo Uccello and Paolo Veronese, theologian Paolo Sarpi, composer Paolo Tosti, filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, and football icons Paolo Maldini and Paolo Rossi.

Paolo has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Paolo

Paolo Gentiloni Politician · Born 1954 · Italy Paolo Gentiloni is best known as an Italian politician who served as prime minister of Italy from 2016 to 2018. He later became European Commissioner for Economy in the von der Leyen Commission, serving from December 2019 to November 2024. Paolo Rossi Politician · Born 1956 · Italy Paolo Rossi was the Italian football star best known for leading Italy to victory at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. A striker, he scored six goals in the tournament to win both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball. Paolo Sorrentino Actor · Born 1970 · Italy Paolo Sorrentino is an Italian filmmaker best known for directing acclaimed movies like The Great Beauty, Youth, and The Hand of God. He is also a screenwriter and writer, and is widely seen as one of the leading figures in modern Italian cinema.
Paolo Villaggio Actor · Born 1932 · Italy Paolo Villaggio was an Italian actor, comedian, director, and writer best known for creating the iconic comic character Ugo Fantozzi. He also created Professor Kranz and the ultra-timid Giandomenico Fracchia, becoming one of the most distinctive figures in Italian comedy. Paolo Nutini Musician · Born 1987 · United Kingdom Paolo Nutini is a Scottish singer-songwriter best known for soulful hits like "New Shoes," "Candy," and "Iron Sky." Born in Paisley, Scotland, he broke through with his debut album These Streets in 2006, which reached number three on the UK Albums Chart. Paolo Bonacelli Actor · Born 1937 · Italy Paolo Bonacelli was an Italian stage and film actor, best known for his work in European cinema. He appeared in notable films including Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, Midnight Express, and Johnny Stecchino.

Celebrity babies named Paolo

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Paolo Maldini Cesare Maldini association footballer ★★★★★
Paolo Ciavarro Eleonora Giorgi film director ★★★★★ Massimo Ciavarro television actor ★★★★★

Paolo – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
IT Boys 0 #10 242,879 10,046
IT 0 #16 13,125 4,183
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
PH 0 #37 60 5,607
MT 0 #43 1 1,767
IT Boys 2014 #45 1,043 46
CM 0 #55 2 2,592
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
LU 0 #59 8 2,830
AL 0 #70 7 2,372
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
CN 0 #84 3 3,857
PH Boys 0 #89 448 11,440
QA 0 #101 6 7,011
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
GE Boys 0 #110 1 2,055
EC 0 #116 6 2,502
OM 0 #119 3 6,215
EE Boys 0 #121 5 2,087
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
CY Boys 0 #123 9 3,473
Switzerland Boys 2024 #124 14 1,769
GR 0 #132 4 3,911
PA 0 #134 5 3,797
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
MT Boys 0 #142 35 4,064
HR Boys 0 #145 148 3,997
CR 0 #148 11 5,526
MT Girls 0 #151 3 3,773
LU Boys 0 #157 62 4,970
Belgium Boys 2024 #158 31 401
HR 0 #165 15 2,081
HU Boys 0 #166 9 3,954
AE 0 #167 11 10,220
PE Boys 0 #167 3,272 14,506
UY 0 #168 10 2,477
PR Boys 0 #177 2 2,508
Sweden Boys 2022 #180 3 1,509
CZ 0 #184 3 3,154
AR 0 #186 8 2,915
France Boys 2021 #191 245 2,865
RU 0 #192 3 3,641
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
SI Boys 0 #200 10 3,402
UY Boys 0 #201 335 5,922
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
BG Boys 0 #206 14 3,850
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
CL Boys 0 #216 1,435 13,390
EC Boys 0 #216 24 3,322
PE 0 #216 96 6,350
AO Girls 0 #217 1 4,575
AL Boys 0 #223 76 5,122
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
IR 0 #229 3 4,221
MO Boys 0 #229 6 5,842
GR Boys 0 #239 29 6,912
NA Boys 0 #245 9 6,830
AO Boys 0 #247 3 5,568
PT 0 #248 3 4,161
TW Boys 0 #255 2 7,111
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
SG 0 #258 12 11,010
CZ Boys 0 #264 41 6,530
NG 0 #272 1 5,926
JP Boys 0 #273 25 7,909
IL 0 #281 2 6,291
PL Boys 0 #285 51 6,459
Canada Boys 2024 #294 13 2,588
HR Girls 0 #294 1 3,687
KZ Boys 0 #295 2 6,578
GT 0 #296 19 5,948
DK Boys 0 #297 29 7,401
CN Boys 0 #299 21 9,639
SA 0 #304 9 10,560
Canada Girls 1991 #306 6 2,266
CL 0 #311 102 6,867
PT Boys 0 #338 30 7,951
QA Girls 0 #343 1 15,378
BO 0 #344 38 6,868
MU Boys 0 #345 13 8,477
GT Boys 0 #347 130 7,625
HK 0 #351 7 8,483
BR 0 #353 8 5,969
GH Boys 0 #360 2 8,138
AR Boys 0 #363 106 7,628
BO Boys 0 #373 259 9,244
NL 0 #379 13 2,481
Austria Boys 0 #387 56 2,180
JO Boys 0 #387 3 7,057
CM Boys 0 #397 162 12,054
PA Boys 0 #399 83 9,305
Spain 0 #404 49 2,326
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
Germany 0 #411 27 2,542
Finland Boys 0 #413 15 2,041
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
PH Girls 0 #426 4 13,098
ZA 0 #430 18 14,421
CR Boys 0 #442 46 10,188
MX 0 #443 3 8,339
CO 0 #449 32 7,768
SD Boys 0 #463 4 10,523
RU Boys 0 #476 30 12,621
Spain Boys 0 #479 591 5,610
HK Boys 0 #510 18 12,905
LY 0 #513 23 12,703
Germany Boys 0 #514 533 5,697
IR Boys 0 #514 39 10,162
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
PS Boys 0 #533 16 10,655
UY Girls 0 #534 3 6,731
GT Girls 0 #540 2 7,500
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
CM Girls 0 #554 7 11,671
KW Girls 0 #558 4 19,177
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
CO Boys 0 #574 400 15,656
BH 0 #579 9 17,937
IL Boys 0 #593 15 10,983
AE Girls 0 #597 1 20,968
MX Boys 0 #604 433 16,355
IT Girls 0 #611 1,307 9,415
LB 0 #612 47 13,263
Finland Boys 2026 #619 64 3,552
AR Girls 0 #626 5 8,289
SG Boys 0 #633 65 17,960
QA Boys 0 #643 65 18,093
BO Girls 0 #647 5 9,488
HK Girls 0 #649 2 16,104
BR Boys 0 #652 100 12,213
IQ Boys 0 #652 16 13,071
TN 0 #666 164 13,765
SY 0 #712 17 11,684
KW Boys 0 #728 42 18,755
NL Boys 0 #732 221 5,873
EG Boys 0 #757 130 15,035
OM Boys 0 #835 47 17,948
United States Boys 2024 #837 56 7,044
CL Girls 0 #907 9 14,098
PE Girls 0 #910 34 14,861
NG Boys 0 #940 12 16,906
AE Boys 0 #973 120 22,615
Spain Girls 0 #973 11 5,561
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
EG Girls 0 #1,005 5 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,008 7 25,931
DZ 0 #1,010 167 20,130
MA 0 #1,018 111 20,986
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
CO Girls 0 #1,066 13 16,140
MY Girls 0 #1,071 2 24,821
MY Boys 0 #1,085 27 25,439
ZA Boys 0 #1,108 71 25,619
TR 0 #1,198 14 19,440
ZA Girls 0 #1,236 1 25,928
MX Girls 0 #1,261 7 17,781
SA Boys 0 #1,443 172 28,008

Paolo is popular in 81 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
Wallonia, Belgium
Switzerland
United States

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People also ask about Paolo

Paolo is predominantly a boy's name.
Paolo is a 3 syllable name, pronounced Italian: /ˈpaːolo/ (PAH-oh-lo); English approximations: /ˈpaʊloʊ/ or /ˈpɑːloʊ/ (PAW-lo / PAH-lo).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Paolino, Paola, Paolone and Paolillo.
Across languages, Paolo has these equivalents: Paul (English/French/German), Pablo (Spanish), Paulo (Portuguese), Pavel (Slavic), Pál (Hungarian), and 2 more.
Yes, very popular — Paolo ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Paolo ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Paolo's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #210 in 2011 to #191 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 8 notable people named Paolo are in our database, including Paolo Gentiloni (Politician), Paolo Rossi (Politician), Paolo Sorrentino (Actor).
Yes — at least 2 celebrity couples have chosen Paolo for their child, including Cesare Maldini.