Pavel
Pavel is a male given name. It is a Slavic cognate of the name Paul. Pavel may refer to:
- Russian
- Czech
- Bulgarian
- Slovene
Meaning & Origin of Pavel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Pavel is a male given name. It is a Slavic cognate of the name Paul. Pavel may refer to:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Russian
- Czech
- Bulgarian
- Slovene
- Macedonian
- Belarusian
The Story of Pavel
American parents first put Pavel on the record books as a baby boy name in 1971, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2008, when 83 Pavels were born — ranking #1,791 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 38% of all recorded Pavels. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,263 among baby boy names with 37 births, holding steady (+2%). In total, more than 2K Pavels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Pavel
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Pavel. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Pavel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Pavel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pavel
What does the name Pavel mean?
What is the origin of the name Pavel?
How popular is Pavel in 2026?
When was Pavel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Pavel most popular?
Is Pavel a unisex name?
What names go well with Pavel?
What are nicknames or variants of Pavel?
About the name Pavel
Pavel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1971 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Pavel's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #1,791. Use the chart and map above to compare Pavel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2008 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.