Meaning & History
Saulos is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Saul, used in the Greek New Testament. The name originates from the Hebrew שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul), meaning "asked for" or "prayed for." In the Old Testament, Saul was the first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. However, due to disobedience, he lost God's favor and was succeeded by David. The name gained New Testament significance as the original Hebrew name of the Apostle Paul (before his conversion to Christianity), who was known as Saul of Tarsus.
Notable Bearers
The most prominent modern bearer is Saulos Klaus Chilima (1973–2024), a Malawian economist and politician who served as Vice President of Malawi from 2014 to 2019 and again from 2020 until his death. He also held positions as Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Head of Public Sector Reforms. Prior to politics, Chilima was CEO of Airtel Malawi and held leadership roles at Unilever and Coca-Cola. On 10 June 2024, he died in a plane crash in Chikangawa Forest Reserve, along with eight others, an event that drew national mourning.
Usage and Distribution
Saulos is predominantly used in Greek contexts (especially biblical) and is rare as a given name outside of Greek-speaking regions. The variant Saoul also appears in Greek traditions. Related names in other languages include Finnish Sauli, Lithuanian Saulius, and Spanish Saúl, but the Hebrew and Jewish forms Shaul (Hebrew) and Saul (Jewish) remain the most widespread.
- Meaning: "asked for, prayed for"
- Origin: Hebrew, via Greek biblical usage
- Name type: Given name
- Usage regions: Greek Bible contexts, occasionally in modern Greek tradition
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Saulos Chilima