# What happened to my name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271 "2010-02-09T13:15:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/21 "2010-02-09T23:29:41Z")
Type in any old school name: David, James, Fred, Richard. They all go extinct or into severe decline in the latter 20th century. Then type in X, Y and Z, and you see all of the Xaviers and Yusefs, as well as Kylie and Serenity. Old school family names all dropped off, and ‘different’ names took over. Or it’s your fault. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/22 "2010-02-09T23:31:20Z")
No offense intended to any of the Pauls here, but the connotation I get associated with the name is someone who is slow, a bit clumsy, & socially awkward. I don’t know why I would get that kind of “vibe” from the name, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/23 "2010-02-09T23:35:27Z")
I was just kind of screwing around with name of my friends and learned something new. Brian was apparently unknown as a name before 1920. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/24 "2010-02-09T23:43:57Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The drop is so sudden and steep, it makes me think there was some reason behind the abandonment, especially as it is a tried and true, widespread, internationally adapted, even **Biblical** name, that had great popularity through the first half of the 20th Century. _Ding!_ Paul is credited with writing large chunks of the New Testament and with doing more to spread Christianity among the gentiles than any other first-century figure. He is also the biblical author most cited in support of the subjugation and exclusion of women and condemnation of homosexuality. For much of the history of Western civilization, this made him a hero and a role model. But it’s no wonder his popularity would drop off in the latter 20th century, as intolerance became less of a virtue. (Note: This explanation is based on first accepting the premise that “Paul” is unique in the decline of its popularity starting in the 1960s, and then casting about for a reason that intuitively makes sense. It is therefore, probably wrong, or at least not completely correct.) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/25 "2010-02-09T23:48:06Z")
It could be worse. You could be a Phil, a Herbert/Herman, a Francis, a Leonard, a Walter…there are worse things than Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/26 "2010-02-10T00:23:43Z")
Take a look at other traditional Biblical names (Michael, Mark, Luke, John, Mary, etc.) and see if there’s a steep drop in the late '60’s. Tradition was falling out of favor at the time. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/27 "2010-02-10T00:39:23Z")
I knew several Pauls in high school, one of whom I thought was just as cute as a bug’s ear. I didn’t even know he knew I existed until I’d long since overcome my fascination with him. Come to find out, he thought I was pretty swell in return. This also happened to me several years later, in college, with a boy named Richard. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/28 "2010-02-10T01:45:26Z")
I’m 31; there appear to be a lot of Jeremys in my generation (26th in the '70s, 28th in the '80s) but before and after, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/29 "2010-02-10T03:22:32Z")
Eh, Paul isn’t cool anymore. Parents now want a name that is either a) gender neutral, b) from the other gender, or c) a random combination of the syllables “kay, kait, bray, shay, gray” (or anything that ends in a long a) and “lin, lee, or lah” Paul isn’t it. I really don’t like the totally unoriginal, bizarre names most kids are getting these days. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/30 "2010-02-10T03:40:20Z")
It is a good Biblical name, but it doesn’t start with J. So you’re out of luck. Too bad you’re not Jacob. If it’s any help, Paul has always been a favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/31 "2010-02-10T03:44:09Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > Eh, Paul isn’t cool anymore. Parents now want a name that is either a) gender neutral, b) from the other gender, or c) a random combination of the syllables “kay, kait, bray, shay, gray” (or anything that ends in a long a) and “lin, lee, or lah” > > Paul isn’t it. I really don’t like the totally unoriginal, bizarre names most kids are getting these days. Hilarious! My brother just had a little girl named Kayla. Their second choice for a name was Taylor. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/32 "2010-02-10T03:53:23Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Hilarious! My brother just had a little girl named Kayla. Their second choice for a name was Taylor. I swear there must be Baby Naming dice and one has the prefixes and the other has suffixes… give 'em a shake and have a “new” name… although it sound like everyone else’s name! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/33 "2010-02-10T04:02:15Z")
Mine went from 22 to 345. I would kill to have a name as common as Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/34 "2010-02-10T04:06:20Z")
That’s because you have to be named SAUL then you CHANGE it to Paul. Now most people just keep Saul 🙂 I’ve actually only known one person named Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/35 "2010-02-10T04:09:31Z")
Neither my name, Boy from Mars or Baby from Mars’s names have ever been in the top 1000. I’ll give him a bye on that as he’s from Italy - but seems Lady G and I are going to be uncommon. I’ve liked it - while it’s true no-one can ever spell it correctly, it’s been good being able to go by a single name - kind of like Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/36 "2010-02-10T04:36:50Z")
There’s hope! Baby Paul turned three months old last week - let’s hope he’s the forerunner of a new fad 🙂 (His mother is a friend-of-a-friend) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/37 "2010-02-10T04:58:33Z")
So I know this teenage kid named T’Quan. By the by, I met his same-age cousin. Who tells me that his name is Paul. I was like “Wha?” He said “Paul” I said “I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear you.” “Paul.” “I’m still not getting it.” He sighed good-naturedly and said “Paul. P-A-U-L. Paul” I was really rather embarrassed, but he seemed used to it. But really, what were his parents thinking? Giving him a weird name like Paul. They should have thought about the fact that he was going to have to go around spelling it to everyone he meets for the rest of his life. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/38 "2010-02-10T05:07:01Z")
No offense to the OP, but I’ve me enough guys named Paul who were just horrible people, that I’m wary of anyone with that name. Seems like there’s a 75% chance they’ll be a total asshole. That said, it’s Oni no Husband’s middle name. And he hates it just as much as I do, for similar reasons (that he came to independently before we met). ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/39 "2010-02-10T05:16:28Z")
Wow. My name was really unpopular through the early 1900s, then had a huge spike in the 1940s reaching #33, and then plummeted immediately to #974. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271/40 "2010-02-10T07:52:47Z")
I happen to love the name Paul. So there. Be glad you have a name that everyone else doesn’t. That means you’re not common. One thing I noticed in the top 200 boys’ names is that very few of them are single syllables. Maybe one out of 10 or less. That trend alone might be a large part of why the use of the name has declined. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-name/528271.md?page=3)