Namewise

Paul vs Salman

Paul and Salmancompared 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Paul was ranked #222 and Salman #582 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2024, Paul was ranked #370 and Salman #385 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Paul was ranked #586 and Salman #1235 among boys in England and Wales.

Paul and Salman over time

Paul and Salman appear together in 2 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Salman in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Salman 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Paul and Salman changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1979 and 2024, ending at #370 and #385.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Paul and Salman were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 31 years, from 1979 to 2024, ending at #370 and #385.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Paul #72 in 1996, Salman #452 in 1998.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys31 shared years, 1979–2024

    Paul held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Salman in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Paul #117 in 1981, Salman #275 in 2016.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #370, Salman #385.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Paul held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Salman in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Paul #72 in 1996, Salman #452 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #586, Salman #1235.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Paul

Pairs where Paul shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Paul, Salman
FieldPaulSalman
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom 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.Not yet recorded
OriginLatinNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈpɔːl/Not yet recorded
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025)Norway · Boys #385 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Salman does not have one recorded yet.
  • Paul has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Salman.
  • A meaning is recorded for Paul; Salman doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Paul

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1998

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Salman

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1979

    First recorded at #638 among boys in Norway in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1979–2024

    Highest recorded position: #275 among boys in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1979–2024).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1235 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys