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Saul

Boy name · 393 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Saul: 393 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 22 births in 2002.

Of Hebrew origin, Saul comes from the name Sha’ul, meaning “asked for” or “prayed for,” reflecting the biblical story of the Israelites requesting a king. The most famous bearer is King Saul, the first king of Israel, whose dramatic tale of triumph and tragedy is told in the Old Testament. In more modern times, the name is associated with Nobel Prize-winning author Saul Bellow, while cultural reach extends to the iconic television character Saul Goodman from *Breaking Bad* and *Better Call Saul*. The name has deep Scottish literary roots too—Sir Walter Scott’s novel *Redgauntlet* features a character named Saul. A notable variant is the Welsh and Breton form **Sawyl**, and while the name has never been common in Scotland, it has seen steady, modest use since the 1970s.