Patricia is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Patricius, which means "of noble birth" or "nobleman." The name Patricia is composed of the Latin words "patri," meaning father, and "ius," meaning belonging to or like. Therefore, the name can be interpreted as "belonging to a father" or "having the qualities of a father."
The name Patricia became popular in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries such as England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It was among the top ten most popular girl names in various years throughout the mid-20th century. For instance, it was the sixth most popular name for girls born in the United States in 1940.
The use of Patricia as a given name is believed to have started in the late 19th century, with its popularity likely stemming from its association with Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Although the name Patricia is generally considered feminine, there are historical examples of it being used for males as well, such as the 5th-century British Christian soldier and missionary Saint Patrick.
Today, Patricia remains a popular name around the world, often given to daughters in families with Irish or Latin roots or simply those who appreciate its classic sound and meaning. Some notable figures named Patricia include American actresses Patricia Neal and Patricia Routledge, Australian tennis player Patricia Todd-Coggon, and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo's mother, Matilde Calderón y Kahlo de Diego.
The statistics provided illustrate the fluctuation of the number of births with the given name Patricia over a span of more than a century in the United States.
From the late 19th to early 20th century, the number of babies named Patricia ranged from as low as 6 (in 1884) to as high as 35 (in 1895). However, starting around the turn of the century, there was a significant increase in the popularity of this name. In 1900, there were 87 births with the name Patricia, and by 1924, that number had climbed to 6957.
The peak of popularity for the name Patricia occurred between the late 1920s and early 1930s, during which time more than 18,000 babies were named Patricia each year. The highest point was reached in 1932 with 17,990 births.
However, after World War II, there was a gradual decline in the popularity of the name Patricia. From around 46,000 births per year in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the number dropped to fewer than 2,000 by the mid-1970s.
In recent years, the number of babies named Patricia has remained relatively low. Between 2000 and 2023, there were between 879 (in 2005) and 202 (in 2023) births with this name each year in the United States.
In conclusion, while the name Patricia was quite popular during the mid-20th century, its popularity has since declined significantly. Nevertheless, even today, there are still a handful of babies born each year with this classic name.