UK boy's name
Pau
Masculine name of Catalan origin representing the Spanish word for peace.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pau is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Pau popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 6 births.
This profile covers 29 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2014 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 29 living people in the UK are called Pau. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pau ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 6 boys were registered as Pau.
- • About 29 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pau as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2017
6 births
Estimated living
29
2026
Meaning
What does Pau mean?
The name Pau originates from the Catalan and Occitan languages, which are Romance languages spoken in parts of Spain, France, and Italy. It is derived from the Latin name Paulus, which means "small" or "humble." The Catalan and Occitan forms of the name, Pau, emerged during the Middle Ages.
In the Christian tradition, the name Pau is associated with the apostle Paul, also known as Saint Paul. He was a notable figure in the early Christian church and is credited with writing a significant portion of the New Testament. The name gained popularity among Christian communities as a way to honor the apostle's legacy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pau can be found in the 13th century. Pau Cristià, a Catalan writer and philosopher, was born around 1275 in Valencia, Spain. He is known for his work "Libre de les Bèsties," a philosophical treatise on the nature of animals.
Another notable figure bearing the name Pau was Pau Casals (1876-1973), a renowned Catalan cellist and conductor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century and was also an influential advocate for peace and human rights.
In the realm of art, Pau Gargallo (1881-1934) was a prominent Catalan sculptor known for his avant-garde works in metal and stone. His sculptures, often depicting human figures, were influential in the development of modern sculpture.
Pau Claris (1586-1641) was a Catalan politician and jurist who played a significant role in the Catalan Revolt against the Spanish monarchy in the 17th century. He served as the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the governing institution of Catalonia, during a tumultuous period of the region's history.
In the field of literature, Pau Faner (1888-1969) was a Catalan writer and linguist known for his contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Catalan language. He authored numerous works, including novels, poetry collections, and linguistic studies.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Pau, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and significance within the Catalan and Occitan regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Pau over time
The chart below shows babies named Pau registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Pau, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pau by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pau was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3996 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4039 | 21 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Pau
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Pau: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pau in the UK right now?
In 2022, Pau was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Pau most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 6 babies registered as Pau in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pau?
Masculine name of Catalan origin representing the Spanish word for peace.
How many people are called Pau in the UK?
A total of 29 babies have been registered as Pau across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.