PaulÉmile

PaulÉmile is a masculine given name formed from the French names Paul and Émile. In French usage, it is commonly written as Paul-Émile or Paul Émile, with some records listing it without a space. As a compound name, it reflects a traditional naming style found in Francophone regions.

The name combines Paul, from the Latin Paulus meaning “small” or “humble,” with Émile, from Emilus (Emilius), associated with roots meaning “rival” or “industrious.” The combination has been used periodically across the 20th century, particularly in French-speaking countries, where compound given names were relatively popular in earlier generations.

Notable people with this name include Paul-Émile Borduas (1905–1960), a Canadian painter and a leading figure of the Automatist movement in Quebec, known for his role in the Refus Global manifesto. Another is Paul-Émile Victor (1908–1991), a French explorer and ethnologist who founded the Institut polaire français Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV), a major organization supporting French polar research.

Today, Paul-Émile remains relatively rare as a given name outside historical contexts. When used, it often signals a traditional or formal naming style. Variants and related names include using Paul and Émile as separate given names, or other hyphenated combinations common in Francophone naming practices.