Pat Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Pat /pæt/
Origin: English; Irish
Meaning: English: noble; Irish: derived from Patrick
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Pat is often considered a diminutive of Patricia, which has its roots in the Latin name Patricius, meaning "noble" or "nobleman." The name Patricia was adopted into Early Christian usage, becoming popular in various forms across Europe. In the 4th century, Saint Patricia was venerated, further embedding the name within Christian tradition.
The name Patricia made its way into English through Old French, where it was adapted as "Patrice" before evolving into its modern form. This transition reflects the broader linguistic influences of Latin on the development of names in the English language.
Throughout history, the name Patricia and its diminutive Pat have been associated with various notable figures. In the medieval period, Patricia was used among the nobility, reflecting its meaning of nobility.
The name gained further prominence in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, due in part to literary and cultural references. For instance, Patricia Highsmith, an influential American novelist, contributed to the name's recognition in the literary world during the mid-20th century.
Culturally, the name Pat has been embraced for its simplicity and versatility, often used in various contexts, including literature and popular culture. The name is sometimes associated with qualities of strength and resilience, reflecting the noble connotations of its origins.
Additionally, Pat has been used as a unisex name, further broadening its appeal. The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its historical significance and the positive attributes associated with its meaning, allowing it to resonate across different cultures and eras.
Famous people named Pat
In this section, you will find notable people named Pat. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Pat who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Pat who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Pat Benatar is a singer best known for Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Love Is a Battlefield, and We Belong.
Pat Sajak is a television personality best known for hosting Wheel of Fortune.
Pat Summitt is a basketball coach best known for her tenure at the University of Tennessee and winning eight NCAA championships.
Pat Morita is an actor best known for his role as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid series and as Arnold in Happy Days.
Fictional characters named Pat
The following list of fictional characters named Pat is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Pat is a fictional character from the novel and film The Crying Game. They are a key figure in the story, known for their complex identity and significant impact on the protagonist's journey.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Pat, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Pat. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Pat was first seen in the United States in 1897.
Pat has ranked as high as #242 nationally, which occurred in 1941, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Pat has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Pat is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Pat was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Pat (1975)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Pat.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1989 | 6 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1986 | 10 |
| 1985 | 6 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1983 | 12 |
| 1982 | 10 |
| 1980 | 10 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 15 |
| 1977 | 16 |
| 1976 | 15 |
| 1975 | 17 |
| 1974 | 28 |
| 1973 | 30 |
| 1972 | 27 |
| 1971 | 46 |
| 1970 | 35 |
| 1969 | 41 |
| 1968 | 63 |
| 1967 | 78 |
| 1966 | 106 |
| 1965 | 162 |
| 1964 | 273 |
| 1963 | 311 |
| 1962 | 484 |
| 1961 | 611 |
| 1960 | 755 |
| 1959 | 1,002 |
| 1958 | 1,042 |
| 1957 | 815 |
| 1956 | 435 |
| 1955 | 359 |
| 1954 | 291 |
| 1953 | 247 |
| 1952 | 300 |
| 1951 | 325 |
| 1950 | 440 |
| 1949 | 667 |
| 1948 | 1,249 |
| 1947 | 1,823 |
| 1946 | 1,872 |
| 1945 | 1,520 |
| 1944 | 1,592 |
| 1943 | 1,840 |
| 1942 | 1,824 |
| 1941 | 1,900 |
| 1940 | 1,863 |
| 1939 | 1,659 |
| 1938 | 1,533 |
| 1937 | 1,529 |
| 1936 | 1,344 |
| 1935 | 1,326 |
| 1934 | 1,204 |
| 1933 | 1,146 |
| 1932 | 1,061 |
| 1931 | 926 |
| 1930 | 734 |
| 1929 | 597 |
| 1928 | 457 |
| 1927 | 407 |
| 1926 | 338 |
| 1925 | 198 |
| 1924 | 158 |
| 1923 | 112 |
| 1922 | 96 |
| 1921 | 75 |
| 1920 | 78 |
| 1919 | 77 |
| 1918 | 70 |
| 1917 | 52 |
| 1916 | 63 |
| 1915 | 46 |
| 1914 | 45 |
| 1913 | 30 |
| 1912 | 31 |
| 1911 | 21 |
| 1910 | 19 |
| 1909 | 15 |
| 1908 | 13 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1906 | 7 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1903 | 8 |
| 1902 | 7 |
| 1898 | 7 |
| 1897 | 5 |