Pat

Pat is an abbreviation for the name Patrick as well as its female form Patricia. Both names derive from the ancient Roman Patricius and the Latin term patricius, which means 'noble' or 'patrician'.

What does the name Pat mean?

Pat serves as a short form for Patrick and Patricia. The roots of these first names lie in the ancient Roman Patricius and the Latin patricius, which means 'noble' or 'patrician'. The gender-neutral name Pat can be interpreted as 'the noble one' or 'the patrician'. In ancient Rome, 'patricians' referred to a wealthy and aristocratic upper class. While Pat is primarily used as an independent first name in the English-speaking world, it is frequently used as a nickname or calling name for Patrick or Patricia in German-speaking areas. Notable bearers of this name include the American singer Pat Benatar and the former Australian tennis player Pat Cash. Other similar short forms include Paddy, Patti, Pattie, and Patty.

Where does the name Pat come from?

The name Pat has Latin roots and means 'the noble one' or 'the patrician'. The Latin formation patricius stands for 'noble' or 'patrician'. The name is primarily used in American English.

How do you pronounce Pat?

The pronunciation of Pat is clear and emphatic. It is pronounced as a single syllable, with the phonetics [pæt] or [pat], which combines a bright vowel and a distinct consonant ending. The sound is direct and compact, and due to the brevity of the name, it has a modern and reduced character. Pat conveys an uncomplicated and confident impression - straightforward and open, with a clear Anglophone sound.

When is the name day of Pat?

The name day for Pat is celebrated on March 17 (for Patrick of Ireland) and August 25 (for Patricia of Naples).

Popularity

In Germany, Pat is a rather rare first name. In 2015, it ranked 3,972nd on the list of the most common male first names. Pat achieved its best ranking in 2010, reaching 2,204th place. Over the last ten years, the name has been given as a first name less than 10 times, which places it at 8,008th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, Pat ranks 7,040th.

Nicknames & pet names

Patty

Famous people

• Mary Pat Fisher (Indian writer)
• Pat (character from 'Pat and Patachon')
• Pat Barker (British writer)
• Pat Benatar (American singer)
• Pat Bond (American actress)
• Pat Booth (English writer)
• Pat Cadigan (American writer)
• Pat Capponi (Canadian writer)
• Pat Cohen (Mexican blues musician)
• Pat Creedy (New Zealand rugby player)
• Pat Crerand (English footballer)
• Pat Crowley (American actress)
• Pat Evison (New Zealand actress)
• Pat Frink (American basketball player)
• Pat Gerber (British writer)
• Pat Ginnell (American ice hockey player)
• Pat Keogh (British footballer)
• Pat Mallet (French cartoonist)
• Pat McAuley (British footballer)
• Pat McCauley (American baseball player)