Saul

The masculine first name Saul has its roots in biblical Hebrew. Translated into English, it means "the requested one," "the desired one," or in a religious context, "the one requested by God."

What does the name Saul mean?

Saul is a masculine first name with biblical Hebrew origins. Its English translation means "the requested one," "the desired one," or in a religious sense, "the one requested by God." Historically, the name was often chosen as a thank you for the birth of a child. The origin of the name lies in the ancient Hebrew term shâ'ûl (שָׁאוּל), which means "requested," "desired," "inquired after," and "prayed for." In the Old Testament, Saul was the first king of Israel and the father of Jonathan, as well as the predecessor of King David. Variants of the name include Saulus, Sauli, Saulius, Saulo, Shaul, and Saoul, while the Spanish form Saúl and the Croatian variant Šaul can also be found.

Where does the name Saul come from?

The name Saul has ancient Hebrew origins and means "the requested one." The etymology traces back to the ancient Hebrew word shâ'ûl (שָׁאוּל), which encompasses the meanings "requested," "desired," "inquired after," and "prayed for." It is prevalent in languages such as Biblical Hebrew, Jewish, and Spanish.

How do you pronounce Saul?

The pronunciation of Saul is monosyllabic and contains many vowels. It is pronounced as [zaʊl] or [saʊl], combining an open A-U diphthong with a soft L at the end. This pronunciation creates a broad sound that gently closes. The name thus conveys an impression of calmness and dignity and sounds melodic, clear, and tradition-conscious.

Popularity

In Germany, Saul is a common first name. Currently, it ranks 3,183rd in the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2020 at 1,293rd. Over the last ten years, Saul has been chosen as a first name about 120 times, placing it 2,125th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,446th.

Nicknames & pet names

Chuck / Gus / Sus

Similar first names

Famous people

• Abba Saul ben Batnit (Scholar)
• Ignacio Saul Corleto (Argentinian Rugby Player)
• Richard Saul Wurman (American Architect)
• Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan (Boxer from Mexico)
• Saul Ascher (German Writer)
• Saul Bellow (American Writer)
• Saul Calandra (Argentinian Footballer)
• Saul Castaneda (Mexican Footballer)
• Saul David (Film Producer from America)
• Saul Dibb (Film Director from Great Britain)
• Saul Elkins (Film Producer from America)
• Saul Hudson alias Slash (Guitarist (ex. Guns & Roses)
• Saul Kripke (American Philosopher)
• Saul Krugman (Doctor from America)
• Saul Lisazo (Argentinian Actor)
• Saul Malatrasi (Italian Footballer)
• Saul Marron (British Actor)
• Saul Martinez (Footballer from Honduras)
• Saul Morales (Spanish Cyclist)
• Saul Moyal (Fencer from Egypt)