Given name & surname
Shaul
“one who was prayed for”
Shaul is a variant of Saul. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who was prayed for.”
Original Hebrewשאול
Meaning & origin
What it means
Shaul is a variant of Saul. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who was prayed for.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Shaul is a variant of Saul. An origin associated with Saul is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From the Hebrew verb sha'al (שאל), “to ask or ask for.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1973. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Shaul is a variant of Saul. The history of Saul gives this family its wider story. Saul has a place in biblical naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Shaul appears in 1 Samuel 10:1, Genesis 36:37, Genesis 46:10 and 2 other passages.
- 1 Samuel 10:1
- Genesis 36:37
- Genesis 46:10
- Numbers 26:13
- 1 Chronicles 6:24
From biblical name research
Shaul through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 730
- 730 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 33 babies
- 2025
- 24
- #4,368 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 24 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,368 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 7.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 723 as a first name in 2020; 1,537 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Shaul’s family of names
Shaul has a related form in Saul. In English usage, Shaul has a related form in Sha'ul.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Shaul
- Shaul MofazIsraeli military officer and politicianborn 1948
- Shaul TchernichovskyRussian-born Hebrew poet (1875 – 1943)
- Shaul LadanyIsraeli racewalkerborn 1936
- Saul AdlerIsraeli microbiologist (1895–1966)
- Shaul YahalomIsraeli politicianborn 1947
- Shaul AvigurIsraeli politician (1899-1978)
- Shaul AmorIsraeli politician1940–2004
- Shaul GutmanIsraeli politician and Professor of Mechanical Engineeringborn 1945
- Shaul BerezovskyComposer, pianist and music director1908–1975
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Shaul, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gianni
“God is gracious”
80% boys · 20% girls
Tahan
“encampment”
>99% boys
Eithan
“firmness” · “long-lived”
>99% boys
Nethaniah
“Yah has given”
>99% boys
Abiezer
“my father is help” · “father of help”
>99% boys
Amael
>99% boys
Ares
“Ares' dome” · “the containment of competition”
96% boys · 4% girls
Amjad
“more glorious” · “having glory and honor”
>99% boys