Is Pat a boy's or girl's name?

Pat is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 26,732 recorded births.

When was Pat most popular?

Pat reached its peak popularity in 1941 with 1,900 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Pat?

Pat is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 40,122 babies in the U.S. since 1897. Its peak was in 1941.

Pat

An uncommon pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysNot ranked recently Also a pet name

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the female given name Patricia.

Pat is a unisex baby name of Latin origin, most commonly a diminutive of Patricia (for girls) or Patrick (for boys), both rooted in the Latin patricius, meaning 'noble, patrician.' It was a go-to nickname throughout the mid-20th century.

Simple and no-nonsense, Pat has an unpretentious quality that suited the postwar American ethos. While less common as a standalone name today, it endures as a friendly shortening for both Patricias and Patricks.

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Popularity Over Time

Pat has 89+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1897.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Pat
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1990s	6	#12649	▼
1980s	67	#8491	▼
1970s	242	#3444	▼
1960s	2,884	#872	▼
1950s	5,256	#421	▼
1940s	16,150	#168	▲
1930s	12,462	#166	▲
1920s	2,516	#547	▲
1910s	454	#927	▲
1900s	73	#1487	▲
1890s	12	#1607	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(89 years, 1897–1991)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Pat
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1991	6	#12649	0
1989	6	#11908	0
1987	6	#10855	-4 (-40.0%)
1986	10	#6975	+4 (66.7%)
1985	6	#10267	-1 (-14.3%)
1984	7	#8863	-5 (-41.7%)
1983	12	#5713	+2 (20.0%)
1982	10	#6713	0
1980	10	#6632	-3 (-23.1%)
1979	13	#5323	-2 (-13.3%)
1978	15	#4606	-1 (-6.3%)
1977	16	#4368	+1 (6.7%)
1976	15	#4285	-2 (-11.8%)
1975	17	#3895	-11 (-39.3%)
1974	28	#2665	-2 (-6.7%)
1973	30	#2489	+3 (11.1%)
1972	27	#2652	-19 (-41.3%)
1971	46	#1896	+11 (31.4%)
1970	35	#2260	-6 (-14.6%)
1969	41	#1972	-22 (-34.9%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Pat as a Boy's Name

Though more common for girls, Pat has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 26,732 births since 1880.

Unranked

Current rank

26,732

Total births

1960

Peak year

Compare Pat as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Pat be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Pat is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it is not currently ranked. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Pat has two lives

Pat, the baby name

Raregirls

40,122 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1897–1991) · Methodology

Pat