Paul Avenel (9 October 1823 – 14 April 1902) was a 19th-century French writer, poet, goguettier, playwright, chansonnier and journalist.

Graduated in 1840 from an école supérieure de commerce, Avenel started studying medicine in 1845 and was an ardent student of Roux, Orfila and Velpeau.

After the 1848 Revolution led him into journalism, he collaborated with many literary and political newspapers.

He established and directed le Daguerréotype théâtral [2] Le Journal de la jeunesse [fr], worked for the Lycée français, the Mousquetaire, etc.

Avenel was a member of the Goguette de la Lice chansonnière [fr], the Société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques, the Société des gens de lettres and the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique.