Given name & surname
Paddy
“a nobleman; patrician”·“patrician”
Paddy is an affectionate form of Patrick. Interpretations include “patrician” and “a nobleman; patrician” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original IrishPáidín
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Irish use, Paddy carries the interpretation “a nobleman; patrician.” Paddy is an affectionate form of Patrick. Interpretations include “patrician” and “a nobleman; patrician” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
Paddy is used as a form of Patrick.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1928. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Paddy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 341
- 93 boys · 248 girls
- Most popular year
- 1934
- 28 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 7 in 2018. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 458 as a first name in 2020; 419 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Paddy’s family of names
In English usage, Paddy is a diminutive of Patrick. Paddy has a related form in Padraic. Paddy is an affectionate form of Patrick.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Paddy has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
Irishwhere Paddy comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Patrickfull form · English
- Padraigvariant
- Padraicvariant
- Padhraigvariant
- Paddievariant
- Paddivariant
- Paddeavariant
- Paddeevariant
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Paddy
- Paddy AshdownBritish politician and diplomat (1941–2018)
- Paddy McNairNorthern Irish association football player (born 1995)
- Paddy ConsidineBritish actorborn 1973
- Paddy ChayefskyAmerican playwright, screenwriter and novelist (1923-1981)
- Roy BatesFounder of the Principality of Sealand (1921-2012)
- Paddy Barnesboxerborn 1987
- Paddy KennyIrish footballerborn 1978
- Paddy MoloneyIrish uilleann pipes player (1938–2021)
- Paddy Driverracing driverborn 1934
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Paddy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kay
“filled with happiness; rejoicing”
17% boys · 83% girls
Murtha
Murtha is a surname from Irish.
50% boys · 50% girls
Draddy
“descendant of Dreada”
—
Dawdy
“descendant of Dubhda”
—
Partlow
Partlow is a surname from Irish, ultimately from German.
—
Huddy
“descendant of Uada”
—
Drawdy
Drawdy is a surname from Irish.
—
Foddy
“descendant of Fuada”
—