Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Pat
BoyIrish, Latin· “short form of Patrick”
- Meaning
- short form of Patrick
- Origin
- Irish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- PAT
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #240 (1937)
- Peak year
- 1960
Meaning and origin of Pat
Pat is an Irish and Latin name that means “short form of Patrick”.
Pat is a short form of Patrick for boys and of Patricia for girls. Both come from Latin patricius, a member of the Roman patrician class, so the underlying sense is noble. Patrick owes its wide use to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and Irish immigrants carried both Patrick and Pat to America, where Pat became common as a name in its own right. It is said PAT. Short, friendly and unfussy, it suits people who prefer a one-syllable name. Parents choosing it today may still want Patrick on the birth certificate so the child has a longer form to use when needed.
Other spellings with the same sound: Patt.
Popularity over time
Pat has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 94 different years. Its best national rank was #240 in 1937, and the most babies received it in 1960, when 1,000 were named Pat. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #416 in 1920, #343 in 1950, #2,100 in 1980, and #10,004 in 2000. Of the 26,732 US boys named Pat since records began, 23% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 5,487 babies. Since 2010, 10 more have been named Pat.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Bart, Matt, Nelson, Clay, and Nick.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Pat is usually pronounced PAT, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with P and ends in “-at”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Patt.
Middle names for Pat
A few middle names that flow with Pat: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Pat
Similar names
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Lists that include Pat
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pat mean?
Pat is an Irish and Latin name that means “short form of Patrick”.
What is the origin of the name Pat?
Pat has Irish and Latin roots. Pat is a short form of Patrick for boys and of Patricia for girls.
Is Pat a popular name?
No. Pat was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Pat a boy or girl name?
Pat is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Pat?
Pat is usually pronounced PAT. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings