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Home › Baby Names Directory › Patricia

Patricia

♀ Girl

Pronounced pah-TRISH-ah /pəˈtrɪʃ.ə/Low

Meaning: Noble, patrician, of noble birthLow

In 30 seconds: Patricia is a stately Latin name meaning noble or patrician. It was one of the most popular girl names in the United States from the 1930s through 1960s, with a warm retro elegance that is making it fashionable again for a new generation.
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Origin LowLatin
MeaningNoble, patrician, of noble birth
U.S. rank (2025)#1336 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births167 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1951
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,573,612

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195118842025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Patricia comes from the Latin patricius, meaning noble or patrician, referring to the Roman patrician class. Saint Patrick of Ireland, whose Latin name was Patricius, brought the name to widespread Christian use. Patricia as the feminine form was popularized in the English-speaking world in the late 19th century.

Patricia was the number one or two girl name in the United States for much of the 1940s and 1950s. While it fell from fashion, the name carries a dignified, classic appeal and is showing signs of a comeback among parents drawn to vintage names.

Did you know? In ancient Rome, the patricians were the hereditary aristocratic class, as opposed to the plebeians. The name Patricia literally means one of the noble class, making it one of the most historically meaningful names for a girl.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Patricia

Variations

PatricePatriziaPatriicia

Nicknames

PatPattyTrishTricia

Famous Bearers

  • ★Patricia Highsmith (1921–1995)
    American crime novelist, author of The Talented Mr. Ripley and Strangers on a Train
  • ★Patricia Arquette (1968–present)
    American actress and Academy Award winner for Boyhood

If you like Patricia…

Penelope— Classic four-syllable feminine name with vintage appeal
Dorothea— Stately classic name of same vintage popularity
Eleanor— Noble-meaning four-syllable classic name
Victoria— Four-syllable Latin-origin classic feminine name

Explore names like Patricia

By themelatinclassicvintagefour-syllableretronoble
By meaningRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Patricia mean?

Patricia means noble or of noble birth, from the Latin patricius referring to the Roman patrician aristocratic class.

When was Patricia most popular?

Patricia was one of the top two girl names in the United States throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

How do you pronounce Patricia?

Patricia is pronounced pah-TRISH-ah, with four syllables and stress on the second.

What are nicknames for Patricia?

Classic nicknames for Patricia include Pat, Patty, Trish, and Tricia.

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