Patrick

Before the Middle Ages, a young man underwent enslavement for six years. Afterward, he returned to England. He later became a bishop and converted Ireland to Christianity. That man, after whom the major holiday of March is named, is St. Patrick. 

St. Patrick is the earliest known bearer of the anglicization of the Latin Patricius, meaning "nobleman." He has seen usage in Britain, where he was especially popular in Scotland, since the twelfth century. Even though Patrick also became a name in Ireland, the Irish considered him too sacred for use. That might also explain why the name emerged several centuries after the saint's time, even in Britain. 

Patrick did not become popular in Ireland until the seventeenth century. He reached popularity in England two centuries later, ranking in the top 100 through 2005. In the United States, Patrick ranked in the top 200 every year until 2018. He was also a top 100 name through 1904 and again from 1937 to 2004. 

Patrick remains popular in Ireland, Australia, and Northern Ireland. The name has also seen usage in other European languages; including Austrian, French, and Norwegian. 

Modern parents usually seek names fresher than Patrick. They also grew up with Patrick Star from the Nickelodeon series SpongeBob Squarepants, which might turn them off as well. Despite this, Patrick remains a Celtic classic with no ties to any time period. 

POPULARITY LEVEL: #250-500

FAMOUS REAL-LIFE NAMESAKES:

• English-born Irish St. Patrick (5th century)
• British poet Patrick Cary (1624-1658)
• American politician and orator Patrick Henry (1736-1799)
• Irish poet Patrick Pearse (1879-1916)
• English actor Patrick Stewart (1940-)
• Scottish film composer Patrick Doyle (1953-)
• American actor and racecar driver Patrick Dempsey (1966-)
• American actor Patrick Cavanaugh (1977-)
• American actor and model Patrick Schwarzenegger (1993-)

FAMOUS FICTIONAL NAMESAKES:

• Villain protagonist and narrator Patrick Bateman in Bret Easton Ellis's novel American Psycho
• Starfish Patrick Star in SpongeBob Squarepants

NICKNAMES: Paddy, Patch, Rick

VARIANTS: Pádraig, Patricio, Patricius, Patrik 

SISTERS: Bridget, Diana, Emily, Jacqueline, Laura, Molly, Rebecca, Susan, Theresa, Victoria

BROTHERS: Andrew, Brendan, David, Gregory, Joseph, Michael, Neil, Philip, Stephen, Thomas

ALTERNATIVES: Aldric, Benedict, Carrick, Cormac, Francis, Hamish, Malcolm, Patton, Prescott, Roderick

NAME LISTS: Celtic Boys' Names, Timeless Boys' Names

FURTHER RESOURCES:

"Patrick." Names, Behind the Name, 21 Jan. 2022, https://www.behindthename.com/name/patrick. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Nickerson, Eleanor. "Patrick." Names of the Week, British Baby Names, 9 Sept. 2017, https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2017/09/name-of-the-week-patrick.html. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

What do you think about Patrick?