Patterson Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PAT-er-sun /ˈpætərsən/
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: son of Patrick
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Patterson is of English and Scottish origin, derived from the patronymic form of the given name Patrick. The etymology traces back to the Latin name 'Patricius,' meaning 'nobleman,' which was adopted into Old French as 'Patrice' before evolving into the Middle English 'Petrik' and later 'Patrick.' The suffix '-son' indicates 'son of,' thus Patterson literally means 'son of Patrick.' This form of surname became common in England and Scotland during the Middle Ages, particularly from the 12th century onward, as surnames began to be used to denote lineage and familial connections.
Historically, the name Patrick is significant due to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who lived during the 5th century.
His missionary work and subsequent canonization contributed to the name's popularity across the British Isles. The name Patterson, as a derivative, would have gained traction in regions influenced by Irish and Scottish culture, particularly during the medieval period when the veneration of saints was prominent.
The use of the name in various historical documents can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appears in records from both England and Scotland. Culturally, the name Patterson carries connotations of nobility and heritage, reflecting the qualities associated with its root name, Patrick.
The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, often symbolizing a connection to familial lineage and tradition. In some contexts, diminutive forms such as Pat or Paddy may arise, although these are less formal.
The enduring nature of the name Patterson can be attributed to its historical roots and the cultural significance of its components, particularly in relation to the legacy of St. Patrick and the broader narrative of Irish and Scottish identity.
Fictional characters named Patterson
The following list of fictional characters named Patterson 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.
Patterson is a fictional character from the book series Alex Cross by James Patterson. He is a detective and psychologist who often finds himself solving complex murder cases.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Patterson, 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 Patterson. 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 Patterson was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Patterson has ranked as high as #11058 nationally, which occurred in 2010, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Patterson has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Patterson 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 Patterson was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Patterson.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 2013 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2011 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2010 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| 2009 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2000 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1990 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1985 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1975 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1969 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1968 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1965 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1964 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1962 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1961 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1960 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1959 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1957 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1956 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1955 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1953 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1951 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1950 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1949 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1947 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1946 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1944 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1943 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1942 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1941 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1940 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1933 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1930 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1929 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1926 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1925 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1923 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1922 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1921 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1919 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1918 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1917 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1914 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1912 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Patterson
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
No state data available for this year.