The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Patricia!

Comments and insights on the name Patricia: | Edit

Patricia is in the top 100 girls names in Chile and Spain. Perhaps Patricia (pah-TREE-syah) will start moving up the SSA top 1000 chart again as the U.S. Spanish-speaking population increases.

Personal experiences with the name Patricia: | Edit

Patricia is my name and I've always liked it!

Patricia is my older sister's name. My mother (whose real first name was Sabina) gave herself the nickname "Pat" as a teenager, and when their first daughter was born, she and my father agreed to give their daughter the name "Patricia". She was called both "Pat" and "Patty" by friends and family. I think she likes having a name that has a feminine long form and a cute, boyish nickname.

My mothers name is Patricia, but she HATES the nickname of Pat or Patty, everyone just calls her Trish or Tricia

My gramma's name is Patricia. ^_^

My name is Patricia and my friends often call me Pat-Pat, Pat, and Patty. My childhood nickname was Thrisha but it was changed to Tricia then it became Patty. I always taught I had an ugly name but now I really love my name it makes me feel professional and sophisticated.

In the mid '80's or '90's the name Patricia was very popular! I don't know why but when I ask my mom why it's so popular she says there was this TV show and one of the characters there are named Patricia.

Many people I know are name Patricia. I remember when I was in the third grade there were four Patricia's in class and my teachers gets confuse on whose to call. But I'm glad I wasn't the always one called because I was the last Patricia.

I really hate it when people call me Pat-Pat it makes me feel fat!

Nicknames for Patricia: | Edit

Aricia, Atri, Atti, Attie, Atty, Cici, Icia, Ish, Pat, Patch, Patia, Patria, Patrice, Patsy, Patti, Pattie, Patty, Pia, Pip, Pixia, Pixie, Pricia, Prisha, Ricia, Ricki, Risha, Sia, Teesha, Tia, Tichia, Tish, Tisha, Tasha, Tix, Tixa, Trecia, Tria, Tric, Tricia, Trisa, Trish, Trisha, Trishia, Trisia, Triska, Trix, Trixia, Trixie, Trysha, Trysia.

Meanings and history of the name Patricia: | Edit

Patricia occurs from time to time in medieval Latin records in England, but then merely denotes a woman bearing the name Patrick. Its use as a genuine first name among English-speakers seems to have begun in Scotland in the 18th century. Patricia became more widespread after it was bestowed upon Queen Victoria's granddaughter Princess Patricia of Connaught (Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth, born 1886), quickly becoming highly fashionable in both Britain and the U.S. In Britain Patricia peaked in the 1930s and lasted until the end of the 1960s before fading in popularity. Between 1929 and 1966, Patricia was one of the top ten names for girls born in the United States, a long run of popularity for a female name.

Famous real-life people named Patricia: | Edit

Pat Nixon, First Lady of the United States, 1969-1974. Born Thelma Catherine Ryan, on March 16, 1912, in Ely, Nevada, "Pat" Nixon acquired her nickname within hours. Her father, William Ryan, called her his "St. Patrick's babe in the morn" when he came home from the mines before dawn. She named her first daughter Patricia, "Tricia".

Patricia Neal, American actress
Patty Duke (born Anna Marie Duke), American actress
Patricia Campbell Hearst, American heiress
Pat Benatar (born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski), American singer
Patricia Manterola, singer and actress
Patricia Navidad, singer and actress
Patricia Heaton, American actress best known for her role in "Everybody Loves Raymond"
Patricia Krenwinkle, Manson family murderer
Patricia Clarkson, American actress
Patricia Cornwell, novelist
St. Patricia (7th century), patron saint of Naples
Patsy Kensit (born Patricia Jude Francis Kensit), English actress
Princess Patricia of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria who later relinquished her title as Princess upon her marriage to a commoner
Patricia Scanlon, author
Patricia Casey, professor of psychiatry at University College Dublin
Pat Phoenix, actress
Patricia Routledge, British actress best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in "Keeping Up Appearances"
Patti LaBelle, a Grammy-winning R&B/soul singer
Patricia Arquette, American actress

Patricia in song, story & screen: | Edit

Patricia "Pat" Gardiner, main character in Lucy Maud Montgomery's novels, "Pat of Silver Bush" and "Mistress Pat.
"Patricia (1950 song), a song written by Benny Davis, recorded by Perry Como
Patricia (Perez Prado song), a song with music by Perez Prado and lyrics by Bob Marcus, featured in the film La Dolce Vita