I love the name [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] but I am concerned about the nickname later in life. I really don’t like the nickname [name_u]Pat[/name_u] and am concerned that it’s inevitable. Does anyone have or know a [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] that just goes by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]? If they have a nickname what is it?
A good friend has a [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] and he only goes by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]. If anyone tries to call him [name_u]Pat[/name_u], he corrects them. I know of two other Patricks, both adults, one chooses to only go by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] and the other goes by both (Patrick and Pat).
Thought of a couple nicknames/pet names, Patch and Patches.
The only [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] I know goes by [name_m]Rosco[/name_m] so… But I know Pad or [name_u]Paddy[/name_u] can be also nicknames for [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]. I think even [name_m]Rick[/name_m] can work.
I have the same dilemma! [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], HATE [name_u]Pat[/name_u]. All the Patricks I have known go only by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]. My fear is…what if HE likes to be called [name_u]Pat[/name_u]?? ”
I don’t like having my name shortened so if someone does I correct them. It will be up to your son on whether or not he’ll go by [name_u]Pat[/name_u] if he so chooses.
The name [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] has run through my family for years! Many were referred to as [name_u]Pat[/name_u], however my dad is known as [name_u]Paddy[/name_u], the name is not as common as it was in the past and suits him perfectly. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps
The first nickname I think of for [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is [name_u]Paddy[/name_u]. I have Irish family so maybe it’s a more common nn in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f]?
I think [name_u]Paddy[/name_u] is a lovely nn, but I agree that [name_u]Pat[/name_u] is not so great. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t like Patch either, reminds me of a dog and I can’t imagine a grown man called Patch.
As long as you nickname something you like from the start, he will most likely use this throughout his life rather than [name_u]Pat[/name_u].
I know a [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] who goes be [name_m]Tre[/name_m] (pulled from the “tri” in the middle) and his pet name from close friends is Trick.
It’s definitely a stretch, but he/we went to school with multiple Patricks in our year so each got a nickname and that’s what he ended up with. Oddly enough, not a single one went by [name_u]Pat[/name_u]. Anyway, the name stuck and he is still [name_m]Tre[/name_m] to this day (to the best of my knowledge, at least. That may not be the case professionally) I remember he used to tell people that he was “[name_m]Patrick[/name_m] Such-and-such the III” in his family to give reason for the nickname even though he was the first!
Some of the other [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]'s went by names that have been mentioned already:
[name_m]Rick[/name_m]
Patch
[name_u]Paddy[/name_u] (this just sounds like Patty to me, though)
[name_m]Patrick[/name_m] in full
and P.J (middle or last name started with a J, can’t remember)
Edited to add that I agree with previous posters saying it will be up to your son what he gets called as he gets older, but you will probably be exhausted constantly telling people “It’s Patrick, not Pat.” and start doing it preemptively which may make you seem uptight about it. If you don’t mind the inevitable correcting, then I would definitely stick with it since you love it - it’s a great name!
While some people may automatically shorten names like [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] to [name_u]Pat[/name_u], if you love the name then use it! If you dread the idea of your future son loving the nickname [name_u]Pat[/name_u], then don’t use it. I know plenty of people that dislike shortened versions of their names and only go by their full names. It’s never been a huge issue they just politely correct people that shorten their names. Most people won’t shorten a name unless the owner of that name refers to themselves that way. Although you can’t 100% avoid someone shortening [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] to [name_u]Pat[/name_u], just like you can’t avoid someone shortening [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] to [name_f]Jen[/name_f]. If you refer to your son as [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], and he refers to himself as [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], most people will call him [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] and not shorten it to something else.
I know a…
[name_f]Katelyn[/name_f] that dislikes [name_f]Kate[/name_f]/[name_f]Katie[/name_f]
[name_f]Annette[/name_f] that dislikes [name_f]Anne[/name_f]
[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] that dislikes [name_f]Jen[/name_f]/[name_f]Jenny[/name_f]
[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] that goes by [name_f]Jen[/name_f]
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f] that dislikes [name_u]Mel[/name_u]
[name_f]Melanie[/name_f] that goes by [name_u]Mel[/name_u]
[name_f]Jessica[/name_f] that dislikes [name_u]Jess[/name_u] but goes by [name_u]Jessy[/name_u]
[name_f]Jillian[/name_f] that dislikes her full name and goes by [name_f]Jill[/name_f]
[name_f]Jillian[/name_f] that dislikes [name_f]Jill[/name_f] and goes by her full name
[name_m]Patrick[/name_m] that goes by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]!
Everyone has their preferences and it all works out for them!
I’m expecting in Sept and [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is my number one for a boy. I grew up with a [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] that is still a [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] as an adult. I don’t think it is a name that is so assumable to be shortened like [name_m]Micheal[/name_m] or [name_m]Joshua[/name_m] for example. I also do not like [name_u]Pat[/name_u]. I think if you stick with the name [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], he will remain and [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] indefinitely:)
I have lots of Patricks in my family, and it seems like the baby-boomers go by [name_u]Pat[/name_u] whereas [name_f]Gen[/name_f] X/Y/Millenials all go by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]. Not sure if that’s the same in other families, but it’s just what I have noticed.
Also, I know Patricks that go by [name_u]Paddy[/name_u], Patch, Packy, Pack, Trick, [name_u]Ricky[/name_u], [name_m]Rick[/name_m], etc. Tons of nicknames, and few people choose [name_u]Pat[/name_u]. All that being said, it will obviously be up to your son if he wants to be called [name_u]Pat[/name_u] or not, so just remember that it will still be a possible nickname if you choose that name.