Patricia
From Latin patricia (“noble”); later also seen as the feminine form of the saint's name Patrick.
Every Patricia since 1884 — 1,578,584 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Patricia
Patricia is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,336 in 2025 with 167 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1884, 1,578,584 American babies have been named Patricia. Its peak came in 1951, when 56,574 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Patricia stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Patricia 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 | 167 | #1,336 | — | — |
| 2024 | 179 | #1,295 | — | — |
| 2023 | 203 | #1,182 | — | — |
| 2022 | 222 | #1,116 | — | — |
| 2021 | 212 | #1,157 | — | — |
| 2020 | 217 | #1,117 | — | — |
| 2019 | 281 | #942 | — | — |
| 2018 | 299 | #900 | — | — |
| 2017 | 308 | #884 | — | — |
| 2016 | 387 | #736 | — | — |
| 2015 | 351 | #802 | — | — |
| 2014 | 380 | #738 | — | — |
| 2013 | 419 | #677 | — | — |
| 2012 | 396 | #712 | — | — |
| 2011 | 431 | #659 | — | — |
| 2010 | 479 | #617 | — | — |
| 2009 | 565 | #535 | — | — |
| 2008 | 630 | #499 | — | — |
| 2007 | 728 | #443 | — | — |
| 2006 | 776 | #411 | 5 | #13,498 |
| 2005 | 880 | #356 | — | — |
| 2004 | 998 | #317 | — | — |
| 2003 | 1,011 | #307 | 5 | #12,260 |
| 2002 | 1,115 | #281 | — | — |
| 2001 | 1,224 | #261 | — | — |
| 2000 | 1,393 | #226 | 5 | #11,691 |
| 1995 | 2,161 | #150 | 8 | #6,821 |
| 1990 | 3,579 | #97 | 39 | #1,960 |
| 1985 | 4,402 | #64 | 35 | #1,753 |
| 1980 | 5,310 | #51 | 39 | #1,562 |
| 1975 | 7,053 | #36 | 29 | #1,743 |
| 1970 | 13,406 | #24 | 71 | #956 |
| 1965 | 23,552 | #6 | 64 | #928 |
| 1960 | 32,113 | #7 | 70 | #908 |
| 1955 | 46,226 | #6 | 91 | #765 |
| 1950 | 47,944 | #3 | 84 | #752 |
| 1945 | 35,844 | #4 | 99 | #608 |
| 1940 | 32,665 | #3 | 140 | #493 |
| 1935 | 22,879 | #5 | 86 | #637 |
| 1930 | 15,751 | #7 | 52 | #939 |
| 1925 | 8,096 | #28 | 23 | #1,618 |
| 1920 | 2,502 | #104 | 7 | #3,737 |
| 1915 | 895 | #189 | — | — |
| 1910 | 316 | #206 | — | — |
| 1905 | 121 | #307 | — | — |
| 1900 | 87 | #362 | — | — |
| 1895 | 35 | #498 | — | — |
| 1890 | 11 | #864 | — | — |
| 1885 | 5 | #1,164 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Patricia
- Patricia Highsmith Writer · 1921–1995
- Patricia Neal Actor · 1926–2010
- Patricia Cornwell Writer · b. 1956
- Patricia Arquette Actor · b. 1968
- Patricia Clarkson Actor · b. 1959
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Patricia mean?
From Latin patricia (“noble”); later also seen as the feminine form of the saint's name Patrick.
How popular is the name Patricia in 2025?
Patricia ranked #1,336 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 167 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Patricia?
1,578,584 babies have been named Patricia in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Patricia most popular?
Patricia peaked in 1951, when 56,574 newborns received the name.
Is Patricia a boy or girl name?
Patricia is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Patricia rising or falling?
Patricia is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Patricia?
Well-known people named Patricia include Patricia Highsmith (writer), Patricia Neal (actor), Patricia Cornwell (writer).