Patrick

PAT·rik, IPA /ˈpæt.rɪk/. · 2 syllables

Patrick is comfortably familiar.

87/100

Strong Practical Fit

Balanced across pronunciation, everyday use, lifetime fit and international use.

Name Profile

Pronunciation & Spelling
Effortless
A documented English pronunciation is on file: PAT-rik, IPA /ˈpæt.rɪk/.
91/100
Everyday Use
Low risk
Shortens naturally in everyday use, with four established short forms.
95/100
Growing Up
Strong lifetime fit
Works comfortably across child and adult settings.
82/100
International Use
Broad international fit
Works cleanly across the assessed languages and writing systems.
85/100

NAME DETAILS

COMMON FORMS: Pat; Paddy; Patsy; Rick
CLOSE SPELLINGS: Patrik; Patric
OTHER-LANGUAGE FORMS: Pádraig; Patrice; Patrizio; Patricio

About the name

"Nobleman" / "of patrician rank" — from Latin "patricius," itself derived from "patres" (fathers/senators), so also glossed as "father of the citizens" in some sources.

Patricius (Latin). Patrick is the English form of Latin "Patricius," meaning "of patrician/noble rank," via Old Irish "Pátraic" (modern Irish "Pádraig"). It is inseparable from Saint Patrick, a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop (his birth name is recorded in some traditions as Sucat, with "Patricius" possibly adopted or given later) who is traditionally credited with Christianizing Ireland and became its patron saint; his exact dates are uncertain, but he is placed in the fifth century, with his feast day observed on March 17. Despite this association, the given name was considered too sacred for everyday use in Ireland itself until the 17th century, after which it became one of the most common Irish male names and eventually spread widely through the Irish diaspora.
Mythological and religious contextSaint Patrick (traditionally 5th century), patron saint of Ireland, is credited in Christian tradition with Christianizing the island; his feast day, March 17 (Saint Patrick's Day), is celebrated both as a religious feast and, especially in the Irish diaspora, as a broader cultural holiday.

How This Name Lives

AT SCHOOL & DAY TO DAY

Wearable at any age; strongly associated with Irish heritage and Saint Patrick's Day, giving it an easy conversation-starter quality for a child without being unusual or hard to pronounce.

INTO ADULTHOOD

Reads as classic, formal, and professionally safe in adulthood — a name with centuries of continuous use across English-speaking and Irish contexts that carries no trendy or dated baggage.

Cultural Footprint

Deeply tied to Irish national and religious identity through Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland; notably, the name was historically avoided in Ireland itself before the 17th century because it was considered too sacred for everyday use, only becoming common there afterward, and it remains strongly associated with Irish diaspora communities worldwide via Saint Patrick's Day.

TRACEABLE ORIGIN

Saint Patrick (traditionally 5th century)patron saint of Ireland, credited with Christianizing the island
Patrick Mahomes (born 1995)American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl-winning MVP
Patrick Starmain character in the animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants"

The Decision

Patrick is spelled without unusual letter patterns, and it holds up in everyday use. Surname-dependent compatibility remains unassessed until a surname is added.

STRENGTH

A documented English pronunciation is on file. Uses standard characters that systems widely handle cleanly.

BEST FIT

Everyday Use is the strongest-scoring part of this name — no obvious nickname traps, rhymes, or initial issues detected.

Patrick

Patrick is comfortably familiar.

Name Profile

About the name

Patrick over time

Rank #235 gives national context, not a classroom forecast.

Pronunciation & Forms

How This Name Lives

Cultural Footprint

Community Impressions

More about Patrick

Names around it

The Decision

See how it works with a surname.