Poul is of Scandinavian origin, deriving from the Old Norse 'púki', meaning 'fowl'. It was traditionally used as a nickname for someone who had the appearance or habits of a bird. In Denmark and Norway, Poul has been a popular given name since the Middle Ages, often paired with patronymics like Pedersen or Paulsen.
The name Poul experienced popularity spikes in the mid-20th century, with notable years being 1944, 1969, and 1970, but has since seen a decline in usage, with only occasional occurrences from 1989 onwards.