Pat
Pat is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Noble or nobleman.
Origin and history
Pat originated primarily as a short form of Patrick, which derives from the Latin title Patricius meaning noble. It became widely established as an independent given name for males in the mid-twentieth century. Although now rarely given as a standalone legal name, Pat remains a classic unisex short form.
Popularity in the United States
26,732 babies in the United States have been named Pat since 1880. It ranks #719 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (12.1 %)
- CA (10.4 %)
- NY (8.4 %)
- IL (5 %)
- OH (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 220 |
| 1890-1900 | 266 |
| 1900-1910 | 366 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,323 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,725 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,309 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,487 |
| 1950-1960 | 4,820 |
| 1960-1970 | 6,046 |
| 1970-1980 | 787 |
| 1980-1990 | 229 |
| 1990-2000 | 111 |
| 2000-2010 | 33 |
| 2010-2019 | 10 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Pat
- Pat Riley: Basketball coach, Sports executive
- Pat Sajak: Television host
- Pat Boone: Singer, Actor
Fun facts
- While historically used as a nickname for Patrick, Pat developed significant usage as a standalone registered given name in the United States.
- The root word patricius originally indicated membership in the ruling patrician class of ancient Rome.