Paavo

Paavo is the Finnish and Estonian form of Paul, ultimately derived from the Latin family name Paulus, meaning small or humble. The name entered Northern European cultures through the Christian tradition, carried by Saint Paul the Apostle, whose missionary journeys made the name widely adopted across many languages. Paavo has been notably borne by Finnish athletic legend Paavo Nurmi, the long-distance runner who dominated the 1920s Olympics. Closely related forms include the Swedish and Norwegian Pål, the Finnish Pauli, and the broader European variants Pavel and Pablo.