--- title: "Is Paulette a Biblical Name? The Paul Behind It, His Story, and Romans 15:13 for Hope" description: "Paulette comes from Paul. Where the name comes from, how to say it, Paul's story in Acts and his letters, and Romans 15:13 for hope." url: "https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-paulette-a-biblical-name" lang: "en" published: "2026-10-04" modified: "2026-10-04" author: "Cal Hewitt" tags: ["paulette","biblical names","paul","paula","pablo","acts 9","romans 15:13"] image: "https://biblenudge.com/og/blog-is-paulette-a-biblical-name.jpg" alternates: es: "https://biblenudge.com/es/blog/paulette-es-un-nombre-biblico.md" --- # Is Paulette a Biblical Name? The Paul Behind It, His Story, and Romans 15:13 for Hope [Cal Hewitt](https://biblenudge.com/about/cal-hewitt)Published October 4, 2026 - paulette - biblical names - paul - paula - pablo - acts 9 - romans 15:13 ![Is Paulette a Biblical Name? The Paul Behind It, His Story, and Romans 15:13 for Hope](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-paulette-a-biblical-name/featured.jpg) Paulette comes from a Bible name. It is a French feminine diminutive built from Paul, so a woman called Paulette carries a name that comes from one of the best-known figures in the Bible. It is said pawl-LET, with the stress on the second syllable, as the [National Hurricane Center's 2026 guide](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/aboutnames_pronounce_atlc.pdf) gives it, and Spanish speakers know the same family as Paula and Pablo. Paulette is also one of the names on the [published 2026 Atlantic list of storm names](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml). ## If you only have a minute ### The name A French feminine diminutive built from Paul. ### Paul Called Saul and Paul in Acts, with letters of his own in the Bible. ### Hope [Romans 15:13](https://biblenudge.com/context/romans-15-13) is Paul's prayer that hope would be given. ### Spanish Paula and Pablo come from the same Latin name. ## Where Paulette comes from [Behind the Name](https://www.behindthename.com/name/paulette) calls Paulette a "French feminine diminutive of Paul," and [Collins](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/paulette) says "derived from Paul." Some baby-name pages route it through Pauline or Paulina, and all of them belong to the Paul family. Paul is a Roman family name from the Latin paulus, commonly glossed "small," "little" or "humble," which are related translations of one word. Behind the Name lists the family: Paul, Paula, Pauline, Pablo in Spanish, Paolo in Italian, Pavel in Czech and Russian. A name's root describes the word, not the person who carries it. Paulette is /pɔ.ˈlɛt/ in English and /pɔ.lɛt/ in French; Paula in Spanish is about POW-la and Pablo about PAH-blo. ## Saul, Paul, and Acts 13:9 Acts 13:9 calls him "Saul, who is also called Paul" ([World English Bible](https://ebible.org/engwebp/ACT13.htm)); the [King James Version](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-Chapter-13/) has "Saul, (who also is called Paul,)". The same chapter names Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Cyprus, a different man (verses 7 and 12). The Reina-Valera 1909 prints Saulo in Acts 7:58, 8:1 and 9:1-30, then Pablo from Acts 13:9, in Romans 1:1 and in 2 Peter 3:15. Many people learned that his name changed at Damascus. Acts first calls him Paul later, at 13:9, and readers explain the two names in different ways. The [Reformation Study Bible](https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/reformation-study-bible/Acts.13.9) says "'Saul' was his Jewish name and 'Paul' his Roman name, probably going back to his life in Tarsus." [David Wenkel](https://place.asburyseminary.edu/asburyjournal/vol66/iss2/6/) (2011) treats the name-change reading as a question and not a fact, and [Richard Last](https://academic.oup.com/book/9676/chapter-abstract/156811629) (Oxford Academic, 2014) reads the shift as a turn in Luke's narrative. A Jewish man in the Roman world often carried a Hebrew and a Latin name. ## His story as Acts tells it Acts introduces Saul at the stoning of Stephen. Saul was "consenting to his death," and he "ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison" (Acts 7:58 to 8:3). Then comes the road to Damascus. Saul travels with letters from the high priest to bring followers of the Way "bound to Jerusalem." There is a light, a voice asking "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?", three days without sight, and Ananias, who is told that Saul is "my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel." Saul is baptized and begins proclaiming Jesus, and in Jerusalem Barnabas speaks for him ([Acts 9, World English Bible](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A1&version=WEB)). What the story gives is a man whose life turned, told by a book that records what he had done as well. ![A dusty stone road bending toward a low wall under a clear sky](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-paulette-a-biblical-name/the-road-bend.jpg) *Acts 9 begins on the road to Damascus.* ## Romans 15:13, a prayer for hope Paul wrote this prayer for hope: > Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul closes a call to a patient, welcoming community of Jews and Gentiles with a prayer for overflowing hope, joy and peace (Romans 15:10-16). [Matthew Henry](https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/romans/15.htm) reads it as a prayer for believers to be filled through faith, and [Enduring Word](https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/romans-15/) as a benediction for a mixed community. It is hope received and not forced, a prayer that hope would be given, which is gentler than being told to feel hopeful. One question: where do you most need hope to be given rather than generated? You can read [Romans 15:13 with the verses around it](https://biblenudge.com/context/romans-15-13), and [Bible verses for hope in hard times](https://biblenudge.com/blog/bible-verses-for-hope-in-hard-times) reads it at more length. ## In his own words Galatians has Paul writing that he "persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it" and was "more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers" (1:13-14, [World English Bible](https://ebible.org/engwebp/GAL01.htm)). In [Philippians 3:5-7](https://ebible.org/engwebp/PHP03.htm) he lists what he once counted as gain, "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee," and says, "I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ." Scholars treat seven letters as undisputed (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon) and six as disputed, 1 Timothy among them ([Powell, 2018](https://cdn.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/esource-assets/files/2920/original/Powell_Explore_readings_all.pdf) and the [USCCB introduction to 1 Timothy](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/0)). That makes Galatians and Philippians the safer ground for his own voice. ## The rest of his life, and how people remember him Acts follows Paul through Antioch, Cyprus, Philippi, Corinth and Ephesus and back to Jerusalem, and Acts 28 ends with him in Rome, under guard and proclaiming the kingdom of God. Later tradition places his death in Rome under Nero. Catholic and Orthodox tradition keep his conversion on January 25 and Peter and Paul together on June 29; the [Catholic Encyclopedia](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm) says "From time immemorial the solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul has been celebrated on 29 June." Protestant readings center on Acts 9. Jewish scholarship, as in the 2013 edition by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, places him within first-century Judaism and leaves room for different views of his relation to it. Saint Paula of Rome (about 347 to 404) was a Roman widow and ascetic who traveled to the Holy Land and worked with Jerome, who wrote of her in [Letter 108](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001108.htm) ([Catholic Encyclopedia](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11582a.htm)). She belongs to later Christian history, and the link between Paulette and Paula runs through the family of Paul and Paulus. In Spain, Pablo and Paula are both familiar names today, and the [INE](https://ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177009&idp=1254735572981&menu=resultados) publishes how many people carry each. ![A needle and a folded length of coarse canvas on a wooden table](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-paulette-a-biblical-name/the-needle-and-canvas.jpg) *Plain tools of a working life.* ## A name on a storm list Storm names are chosen years ahead from World Meteorological Organization lists, with English, French and Spanish names used [in balance on the list in order to reflect the geographical coverage of Atlantic and Caribbean storms](https://wmo.int/content/tropical-cyclone-naming/caribbean-sea-gulf-of-mexico-and-north-atlantic-names). The National Hurricane Center says the lists [are used in rotation and recycled every six years](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml). A name on the list is a label that helps people tell storms apart in warnings, chosen long before any storm forms, and wondering about it is an ordinary thing to do. For official storm information at any time, the National Hurricane Center is at [nhc.noaa.gov](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) in English and in [Spanish](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWOSAT.shtml). Other names on the 2026 storm lists with a story in the Bible: [Isaias](https://biblenudge.com/blog/isaias-name-meaning), [Rachel](https://biblenudge.com/blog/rachel-name-meaning-bible), [Simon](https://biblenudge.com/blog/simon-name-meaning-bible), [Josephine](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-josephine-a-biblical-name), [Leah](https://biblenudge.com/blog/leah-name-meaning-bible), [Marco](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-marco-a-biblical-name), [Omar](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-omar-a-biblical-name), [Sally](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-sally-a-biblical-name) and [Zeke](https://biblenudge.com/blog/zeke-name-meaning-bible). ## Carrying the name One Behind the Name commenter wrote on 2020-09-27, "Paulette very popular name in France."; another, on 2020-09-08, "My favorite of the feminine Paul names." ([Behind the Name comments](https://www.behindthename.com/name/paulette/comments)). On Reddit's r/namenerds, a post titled "The Name Paulette" opens with ["My late grandmother name is Paulette"](https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/1fh0cky), posted about 2024. [The Bump](https://www.thebump.com/b/paulette-baby-name) says: "It's an alternative form of the biblical name Paul, making Paulette a sweet way to honor a special Paul in your life." What lands badly with a Paulette is being told the name is not a real Bible name, as if that meant a lesser connection, or being told her name comes from "a persecutor." Gentler lines that help: - "Your name comes from Paul, whose letters are in the Bible; do you know who you were named for?" - "Paul's story is more than one thing, and it has a lot of turning points in it." A woman's dignity rests in who she is, whatever her name. ## Questions people ask **Significado del nombre Paulette:** a French diminutive of Paul, from the Latin paulus, "small." **Significado del nombre Paula:** the feminine form of Paulus, which [Spanish-language name references](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula) gloss as "pequeña." **Pablo en la Biblia:** Pablo is Paul. Spanish-language [name references](https://ifc.dpz.es/recursos/publicaciones/37/61/_ebook.pdf) give it the sense "pequeño." ## Where to go next Read Romans 15:13 once, aloud, with the question above, or ask a Paulette in your life whom she was named for. [Bible Nudge](https://biblenudge.com/) can suggest one passage for what you are carrying. [Find a passage](https://biblenudge.com/nudge). If hope has gone thin tonight, please reach a person. In the United States, call or text 988 for the [988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline](https://988lifeline.org/contact-us/). In Canada, call or text 9-8-8. In the UK and Republic of Ireland, [Samaritans](https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/) is on 116 123. In Australia, [Lifeline](https://www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-support/) is 13 11 14. Anywhere else, [Find A Helpline](https://findahelpline.com/) lists services by country. ## Words that come up here Tap a term to see what it means. **Diminutive.** A shortened or softened form of a name, like Paulette from Paul. **Apostle.** A messenger sent out; the title Paul uses for himself in his letters. **Proconsul.** A Roman governor of a province. ## Share this page If somebody you know is carrying this, the link goes straight to the passage and what surrounds it. Nothing here asks them to sign up for anything. [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbiblenudge.com%2Fblog%2Fis-paulette-a-biblical-name)[Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbiblenudge.com%2Fblog%2Fis-paulette-a-biblical-name&media=https%3A%2F%2Fbiblenudge.com%2Fblog%2Fis-paulette-a-biblical-name%2Ffeatured.jpg&description=Is%20Paulette%20a%20Biblical%20Name%3F%20The%20Paul%20Behind%20It%2C%20His%20Story%2C%20and%20Romans%2015%3A13%20for%20Hope) ## Related Articles - [Is Josephine a Biblical Name? Where It Comes From, What It Means, and the Joseph Behind It](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-josephine-a-biblical-name): Josephine comes from Joseph, a Hebrew Bible name meaning he adds. Joseph's story, the other Josephs, how to say it, and Josefina in Spanish. - [Is Omar a Biblical Name? Omar in Genesis, the Arabic Name Umar, and James 1:5 for a Plain Question](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-omar-a-biblical-name): Omar is a minor figure in Genesis and also a spelling of the Arabic name Umar. What each name means, how it is said, and James 1:5 for an honest question. - [Is Cremation a Sin? What Churches Teach, What Scripture Records, and Romans 15:13 for the Family Deciding](https://biblenudge.com/blog/is-cremation-a-sin): Choosing cremation for someone you love? What the main churches teach, what the Bible records about burial and burning, and Romans 15:13 as words for the family.