Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1934

Paddy

Meaning Paddy is a unisex given name Gender Unisex · 73% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

Paddy is a unisex given name.

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Paddy
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1934
28 babies
All-time total
341
#16,160 all-time among girls
First recorded
1928
in Social Security records

Paddy popularity over time

341 babies have been named Paddy since 1928, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s 10 6 16 2 – #5,126
1930s 129 17 146 15 +813% #1,397
1940s 52 14 66 7 -55% #2,515
1950s 57 27 84 8 +27% #3,372
1960s – 11 11 1 -87% –
1970s – – – – – –
1980s – – – – – –
1990s – – – – – –
2000s – 5 5 1 – –
2010s – 13 13 1 +160% –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Paddy

Paddy 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 1928, 341 American babies have been named Paddy, about 73% girls and 27% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1934, when 28 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

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 Paddy stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Paddy?

The median living Paddy is about 75 years old; half are between 68 and 85. An estimated 200 people named Paddy are alive in the United States today.

median 75 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Paddy 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 – – 7 #10,458
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – 6 #11,728
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – 5 #12,842
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – – –
1995 – – – –
1990 – – – –
1985 – – – –
1980 – – – –
1975 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1965 – – 6 #3,820
1960 – – 5 #4,450
1955 11 #3,728 – –
1950 11 #3,372 – –
1945 – – – –
1940 9 #3,155 – –
1935 16 #2,079 – –
1930 – – 5 #4,411
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Paddy

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Paddy Considine Paddy Considine English actor, director, screenwriter, and musician (born 1973) Contemporary
  2. 2 Paddy Chayefsky Paddy Chayefsky American playwright, screenwriter and novelist (1923–1981) Contemporary
  3. 3 Paddy Ashdown Paddy Ashdown British politician (1941–2018) Contemporary
  4. 4 Paddy Roy Bates Paddy Roy Bates Principality of Sealand founder (1921–2012) Contemporary
  5. 5 Paddy Kenny Ireland international footballer b. 1978 · Contemporary
  6. 6 Paddy Moloney Paddy Moloney Irish musician (1938–2021) Contemporary
  7. 7 Paddy Lowe Paddy Lowe British Formula One engineer (born 1962) Contemporary
  8. 8 Paddy Barnes Paddy Barnes Irish boxer (born 1987) Contemporary
  9. 9 Paddy Driver South African racing driver (born 1934) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Paddy, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Paddy?

The median living Paddy is about 75 years old. Half of all living Paddys are between 68 and 85 years old.

How many people named Paddy are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Paddy are alive in the United States, based on 341 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Paddy mean?

Paddy is a unisex given name.

How popular is the name Paddy in 2025?

Paddy 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 Paddy?

341 babies have been named Paddy in the United States since 1928, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Paddy most popular?

Paddy peaked in 1934, when 28 newborns received the name.

Is Paddy a boy or girl name?

Paddy is used for both: about 73% of babies named Paddy have been girls and 27% boys.

Is the name Paddy rising or falling?

Paddy has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Paddy?

Well-known people named Paddy include Paddy Considine (actor), Paddy Chayefsky (writer), Paddy Ashdown (politician).

Names like Paddy

Names that sound and feel close to Paddy: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Paddy with similar names → More names starting with P →