I work at a newspaper that appears to have seven guys named Paul in its newsroom. Seven.

And what makes things, uh, interesting … is that at the moment three of those seven Pauls work within three yards of each other. One of them is directly behind me and another faces him on the other side of a table.

So when someone shouts, in my general direction, “Hey, Paul!” … three guys turn and look. It is an unsatisfactory arrangement.

One of these Pauls is new to this particular part of the newsroom.  I knew he was named Paul but I had never spoken to him. One night I said, “Is your name Paul?” And he said yes. And I looked at the guy who sits across from him and said, “Is your name Paul?” And he replied in the affirmative. And I said “My name is Paul, too. I think we have at least one too many.”

And one of the other Pauls said, “OK, I can go home.” In that clever way that Pauls often have.

Anyway, it’s odd … but it apparently won’t last. Talking long-term here.

Turns out, the name “Paul” has been dropping like a rock among the most common first names for male babies in America.

According to this site, Paul was in the top 50 most common American boys names for 11 consecutive decades,  from 1880 through the 1980s,  and was routinely in the top 20 for much of that 110 years. Peaking at No. 13 in the 1920s.

And why not? It’s short. It’s simple. It’s Biblical. Saint Paul wrote about half the New Testament. He’s a famous guy.

But Paul began to fade in the 1980s,  then started falling fast. By 2001, it was out of the top 100 names given to American baby boys that year. And hasn’t made it back in the top 100 since.

Meanwhile, Paul seemed to hang on a bit longer in England, which is where the two Pauls who sit within whispering distance of me are from. Both of whom are perhaps 25-plus years younger than I am. One of the older Pauls in the room is from Australia, and another is from Canada … and I don’t know the other two Pauls in the newsroom.

Anyway, the British Isles’ lingering fondness for Paul may have something to do with Paul McCartney. Sir Paul the Beatle. One of the two British Pauls, in fact, said he was named after Paul McCartney. Though he isn’t fond of the name and would prefer to have been named Tristan or Alistair. Yes, he said this.

What are Americans naming their children, instead of Paul? According to the 2008 list, some really silly names.  Such as Kaden (No. 99) and Caden (95) and Ayden (91) and Jaden (88) and Jayden (11) and Aiden (16) and Brayden (51). Honest.

Turns out, Paul isn’t quite the most popular name in the newsroom. That would be Matt (or Mathew or Matthew), which has eight guys on its list, and John or Jonathan, which also has eight.

Then comes Paul, followed by Robert or Bob (five) and Mike or Michael (also five).

The Johns and Matts are just going to have to learn to live with this: Both names still are in the top 20 in the 2008 list.

The Pauls, however, should get some relief.  Because we older Pauls aren’t going to be on the scene much longer. If the young Pauls can hang on a few more years, the ranks of Pauls will start to thin out, and they won’t find their heads swiveling several times a night to answer a call for a Paul … who isn’t them. And they may not regret not being named Alistair.