Pat
Pat is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Noble or patrician.
Origin and history
Pat is a short form of Patricia, derived from the Latin term 'patricius' meaning noble. It was extremely popular in the mid-20th century in the United States as both a full given name and a common nickname. Today, it is rarely given as a standalone formal name for newborns.
Popularity in the United States
40,123 babies in the United States have been named Pat since 1880. It ranks #686 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.3 %)
- IL (8.5 %)
- TX (6.8 %)
- OH (6.4 %)
- MI (5.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 12 |
| 1900-1910 | 73 |
| 1910-1920 | 454 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,516 |
| 1930-1940 | 12,463 |
| 1940-1950 | 16,150 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,256 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,884 |
| 1970-1980 | 242 |
| 1980-1990 | 67 |
| 1990-2000 | 6 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Pat
- Pat Benatar: Singer, Songwriter
- Pat Nixon: First Lady
- Pat Bradley: Professional Golfer
Fun facts
- While traditionally a nickname for Patricia, Pat was frequently registered as an independent legal name in the U.S. during the 1930s and 1940s.
- Pat ranked among the most familiar names in the mid-20th century but has dropped significantly in contemporary usage.