Pat
A diminutive of the female given name Patricia.
Every Pat since 1880 — 66,855 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Pat
Pat is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1880, 66,855 American babies have been named Pat — about 60% girls and 40% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1947, when 2,544 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Pat stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Pat year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | 5 | #13,524 |
| 2013 | — | — | 5 | #13,559 |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | 11 | #7,296 |
| 2005 | — | — | 6 | #11,115 |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | 5 | #12,259 |
| 2002 | — | — | 5 | #11,999 |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | 6 | #10,004 |
| 1995 | — | — | 14 | #4,447 |
| 1990 | — | — | 20 | #3,138 |
| 1985 | 6 | #10,267 | 21 | #2,483 |
| 1980 | 10 | #6,633 | 26 | #2,100 |
| 1975 | 17 | #3,894 | 61 | #1,078 |
| 1970 | 35 | #2,260 | 191 | #586 |
| 1965 | 162 | #781 | 518 | #332 |
| 1960 | 755 | #349 | 1,000 | #253 |
| 1955 | 359 | #477 | 329 | #401 |
| 1950 | 440 | #386 | 384 | #343 |
| 1945 | 1,520 | #154 | 492 | #264 |
| 1940 | 1,863 | #134 | 482 | #250 |
| 1935 | 1,327 | #150 | 458 | #253 |
| 1930 | 734 | #227 | 373 | #296 |
| 1925 | 198 | #501 | 295 | #337 |
| 1920 | 78 | #820 | 204 | #416 |
| 1915 | 46 | #986 | 166 | #420 |
| 1910 | 19 | #1,023 | 58 | #325 |
| 1905 | 6 | #1,876 | 35 | #353 |
| 1900 | — | — | 50 | #294 |
| 1895 | — | — | 36 | #303 |
| 1890 | — | — | 29 | #325 |
| 1885 | — | — | 23 | #374 |
| 1880 | — | — | 12 | #555 |
Famous people named Pat
- Pat Morita Actor · 1932–2005
- Pat Hitchcock Actor · b. 1928
- Pat Nixon Companion · 1912–1993
- Pat Garrett Religious figure · 1850–1908
- Pat Metheny Musician · b. 1954
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pat mean?
A diminutive of the female given name Patricia.
How popular is the name Pat in 2025?
Pat did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Pat?
66,855 babies have been named Pat in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Pat most popular?
Pat peaked in 1947, when 2,544 newborns received the name.
Is Pat a boy or girl name?
Pat is used for both: about 60% of babies named Pat have been girls and 40% boys.
Is the name Pat rising or falling?
Pat has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Pat?
Well-known people named Pat include Pat Morita (actor), Pat Hitchcock (actor), Pat Nixon (companion).