Saul

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A male given name of Hebrew origin that means 'asked for' or 'prayed for'
2. Often associated with the biblical first king of Israel who was chosen by God, experiencing both triumph and downfall
3. A name that signifies a person's longing or desire, reflecting historical and cultural significance in Jewish tradition

Etymology: Saul was the first king of ancient Israel, and his name comes from a Hebrew verb meaning "asked for" or "prayed for." The biblical king was named "Shaul," which means "asked for," and the name passed through ancient Greek as "Saoúl" and then Late Latin "Saul" before reaching English through Old English. English also has a surprising twin. "Silas," the name of the companion of the apostle Paul in the New Testament, is a doublet of "Saul." Both come from the same Hebrew name, but "Silas" reached English by a different route, through the Aramaic form of the name, so the two English forms look and sound distinct despite sharing an origin.