A boy's name that is also given to girls

BarcelonaPau was within the top 10 (it was ninth) of the most given boy names in Catalonia in 2024. But its peak popularity was in 2003, when it was the third most common name. In fact, between 2000-2009 it was given to over 9,000 newborns and between 2010-2019 to almost 5,700.

It is a short and local name – 96.4% of Paus in the State live in Catalonia (23,495), Valencian Country and Balearic Islands (around 11,000) – but its popularity is declining. “Even so, in some socioeconomic or age bubbles it may still seem like a very common name,” points out Francesc Calafell, lead researcher at IBE (CSIC - Pompeu Fabra University) and professor and researcher at UPF.

It is more popular in inland Catalonia than in the metropolitan area. The region where it is most popular is Pla de l'Estany, where 12.67 out of every thousand men are called Pau, followed by Pallars Jussà with 11.78 per thousand, and in third place is the Priorat region with 10.37 per thousand. In contrast, in Barcelonès, one of the regions with the fewest Paus, it doesn't even reach 4.5 per thousand. “Currently, it seems to be being overtaken by Pol [currently in 10th position] as a way to give it a twist and modernize it,” explains the UPF researcher.

It also adds that it is a name that is chosen more for its sound than for allusion to the calendar of saints. Its feast day is celebrated on June 29, along with Saint Peter, in honor of the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Women named Paul

In the State there are 35,499 men named Pau and the average age is quite low, 20.2 years. There are also 295 women named Pau and they are even younger: 19.3 years. "It can be gender ambiguous and confusing," explains Francesc Calafell.

According to the researcher, it is also an underrepresented name in statistics, as those born before 1976 were called Pablo if they have not Catalanized their name. In general, however, it is an infrequent name in antiquity. Between 1940 and 1989, Pau was only given to just over 3,000 babies. “Pere was historically much more popular,” indicates the lead researcher at the IBE. Now, however, Pere has taken a backseat: “For every Pere we have two Pau, approximately,” concludes Francesc Calafell. And the average age of Peres is more than double that of Paus: 52.9 years.