"Champion knight; defender of the palace and faith"
Paladin
Pronunciation: [ p-AL-uhd-ihn ]
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Legendary knight name steeped in chivalry and honor
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
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Meaning & Origin
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Browse nicknames →The Story of Paladin
Paladin comes from the Old French paladin and Latin palatinus, meaning a knight or champion associated with the palace. The Twelve Paladins were the greatest knights of Charlemagnes court, legendary warriors sworn to defend the Christian faith and empire. The word entered English to mean any heroic champion or knight-errant. As a first name, Paladin carries centuries of chivalric romance.
Paladin has seen growing interest as parents look beyond traditional fantasy names to medieval and chivalric vocabulary for inspiration.
The paladins of medieval legend embodied the highest ideals of knighthood: courage, loyalty, and honor in service to something greater than oneself.
Historical Record
Paladin first appeared in US Social Security records in 1958.
Over 41 babies have been named Paladin in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Paladin is past its peak , currently ranked #29,589 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Paladin is also a character class in Dungeons and Dragons, representing holy warriors
- The Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne inspired countless medieval epics and romances
Paladin in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Paladin
Roland Fictional
Military
778
The most famous of Charlemagnes Twelve Paladins, celebrated in the epic Song of Roland
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Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #29,589
- Total SSA Count
- 5
- Cultural Origins
- European Medieval American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Paladin
5 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Paladin
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Sibling Match
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Frequently Asked Questions About Paladin
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About the Name Paladin
Paladin is a boy name with European, Medieval, and American origins . The name means "Champion knight; defender of the palace and faith" in Old French palatinus, Latin .
Paladin is currently ranked #29,589 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Paladin has 3 syllables and is pronounced p-AL-uhd-ihn, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Paladin include Pal and Adin. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis