Pat
Pat was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked 134th; the most babies were born in 1941 (1,900). More babies were named Pat in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Meaning short form of Patricia or Patrick; "noble" · Latin, English
Say it PAT /pæt/
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- No babies recorded in the last five years2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19411,900 babies
- Total since 1880
- 66,855babies recorded
What does the name Pat mean?
Pat is a short form of Patricia for girls and Patrick for boys. Both come from the Latin patricius, "patrician, noble", a member of Rome's old aristocratic families. Patrick is famous as the name of the 5th-century missionary saint of Ireland, and Patricia is its feminine. Pat was a very common nickname in mid-20th-century America for both sexes.
patricius (Latin, “patrician, noble”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Patricia, Patrick, Patty, Patsy, Trish.
See also: Latin names, names that mean noble.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Pat', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Patrick', DMNES (Durham University)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Patricia', DMNES (Durham University)
Pat popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | #10,004 | — | 6 |
| 1990 | — | #3,138 | — | 20 |
| 1980 | #6,633 | #2,100 | 10 | 26 |
| 1970 | #2,260 | #586 | 35 | 191 |
| 1960 | #349 | #253 | 755 | 1,000 |
| 1950 | #386 | #343 | 440 | 384 |
| 1940 | #134 | #250 | 1,863 | 482 |
| 1930 | #227 | #296 | 734 | 373 |
| 1920 | #820 | #416 | 78 | 204 |
| 1910 | #1,023 | #325 | 19 | 58 |
| 1900 | — | #294 | — | 50 |
| 1890 | — | #325 | — | 29 |
| 1880 | — | #555 | — | 12 |
How popular is Pat, counting every spelling?
Pat has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How old are people named Pat?
About 18,800 people born in the US named Pat are alive today, with a median age of 79; half are between 69 and 84. That makes Pat a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Pat by state
How common Pat was among girls born in each state in 1939–1943, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Idaho (2.9×), California (2.8×), Washington (2.8×), Oregon (2.8×), Utah (2.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Pat: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Pat, they share its era and feel.
Pat is also a nickname for Patrick and Patricia.
Questions about the name Pat
What does Pat mean?
Pat means “short form of Patricia or Patrick; "noble"” (Latin, English origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Pat?
Pat was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked 134th; the most babies were born in 1941 (1,900). More babies were named Pat in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Is Pat a boy or girl name?
No babies were given the name in 2021–2025. Historically it was given to 40,123 girls and 26,732 boys.
Where was Pat most popular?
In 1939–1943, Pat was most common in Idaho (4.26 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and Washington.