Mitchell vs Paul
Mitchell and Paulcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1998, Mitchell was ranked #19 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Mitchell was ranked #25 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Mitchell was ranked #387 and Paul #103 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Mitchell was ranked #749 and Paul #144 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Mitchell was ranked #535 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Mitchell was ranked #968 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Mitchell and Paul over time
Mitchell and Paul appear together in 5 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mitchell in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Mitchell in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Mitchell moved into the top 50 at #41 in 1992 as Paul fell out of it to #53, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1985, Mitchell moved ahead of Paul in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #26 and #22 the year before became #20 and #24.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Mitchell #75 in 1998, Paul #72 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #79 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #968 and #586.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mitchell held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Paul in 20.
Highest recorded here: Mitchell #75 in 1998, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mitchell #968, Paul #586.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1979–1998
Mitchell held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Paul in 6.
Highest recorded here: Mitchell #9 in 1992, Paul #13 in 1979.
The order changed in 1985: Mitchell moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #26 and #22; by 1985 that had become #20 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Mitchell #19, Paul #86.
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1989–2018
Mitchell held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 14.
Highest recorded here: Mitchell #242 in 1998, Paul #8 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Mitchell #749, Paul #144.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1986–1998
Mitchell held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Paul in 6.
Highest recorded here: Mitchell #24 in 1995, Paul #25 in 1987.
The order changed in 1992: Mitchell moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #54 and #50; by 1992 that had become #41 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Mitchell #25, Paul #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2010
Mitchell held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 12.
Highest recorded here: Mitchell #192 in 2001, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Mitchell #387, Paul #103.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Mitchell | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An English surname derived from the given name Michael, or in some cases from Middle English 'michel' ('big, large'). | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | English (surname origin), from Michael or 'michel' | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɪt͡ʃ.əl/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Mitchell is recorded with a English (surname origin), from Michael or 'michel' origin, while Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Mitchell has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- Mitchell's recorded meaning differs from Paul's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Mitchell
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1979–2013
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1979–2013).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys