Message: "My name is Patricia, it was my grandmother's name as well (m)"

[Opinions] My name is Patricia, it was my grandmother's name as well (m)

by Piccadilly

6/17/2012, 9:43 AM

I don't think Patricia is up for making a revival just yet. But it's really hard to say: I've noticed heaps of little ones running around with Patricia as a middle name, honoring I assume. It's definitely still in use but not so much as a first name. There were only 421 born last year...

I think one of the larger issues with the decline in popularity is that most people see nicknames as a problem. Pat, Trish, Tish, Tricia, Patty, Patsy, etc. are not the most attractive and they're quite dated. There are lots of other nicknames out there that are much more uncommon and really adorable: Pia, Pippa, Pippi, Trixie, Atti, Paisie / Pacey, Pixie, Pasha, etc.

Then there is the issue of the first generations of Patricia's. They're getting up in age and so the image most people have is of much older women. It has become the name of a grandmother. I know, as a Patricia myself, that when someone sees your name written before they actually meet you, quite a few assume you're an older woman. Which isn't the most fun, especially when you're younger.