Patrick
Boy name · #235 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Patrick? In official American birth records, Patrick has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,495 baby boys were named Patrick, placing it at #235 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #164, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,204 boys born in 2025 was named Patrick.
Babies named Patrick per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Patrick first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 248 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1964, when 14,692 boys were named Patrick — good for #30 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Patrick against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Patrick in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Patrick is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Patrick is most common
Geography matters for names, and Patrick is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Patrick is most common in AK (5.3 per 1,000), MA (2.4 per 1,000), CT (2.2 per 1,000), MD (2 per 1,000), NJ (1.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Patrick is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Patrick
Patrick carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
PatrickPatPaddy
Names like Patrick
Statistically, parents drawn to Patrick tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Frederick, Derrick, Peter, Timothy, and Kevin.
FrederickDerrickPeterTimothyKevinPhillipMartinMark
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Patrick | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,495 | #235 |
| 2024 | 1,630 | #221 |
| 2023 | 1,601 | #224 |
| 2022 | 1,717 | #218 |
| 2021 | 1,791 | #212 |
| 2020 | 1,867 | #205 |
| 2019 | 1,881 | #207 |
| 2018 | 2,124 | #189 |
| 2017 | 2,304 | #171 |
| 2016 | 2,360 | #170 |
| 2015 | 2,535 | #164 |
| 2014 | 2,680 | #152 |
| 2013 | 2,598 | #154 |
| 2012 | 2,823 | #140 |
| 2011 | 2,868 | #143 |
| 2010 | 3,139 | #129 |
| 2009 | 3,250 | #129 |
| 2008 | 3,339 | #127 |
| 2007 | 3,736 | #116 |
| 2006 | 3,947 | #110 |
| 2005 | 4,044 | #108 |
| 2004 | 4,441 | #100 |
| 2003 | 4,789 | #91 |
| 2002 | 5,153 | #79 |
| 2001 | 5,786 | #72 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Patrick?
In official American birth records, the name Patrick first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 248 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Patrick a popular boy name?
Patrick ranked #235 among boys in 2025 with 1,495 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #164.
When was the name Patrick most popular?
Patrick peaked in 1964, when 14,692 American boys received the name (ranked #30 that year). Since 1964 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Patrick?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,204 newborn American boys was named Patrick. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.