Given name & surname
Patsy
“a dupe”
Patsy is used as a given name and a surname. One interpretation is “a dupe.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “a dupe.”
Where it comes from
In English use, Patsy is a diminutive of Martha. An origin associated with Martha is Aramaic. In English use, Patsy is a diminutive of Patrick. An origin associated with Patrick is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Patsy is a diminutive of Patricia. Patsy is an affectionate form of Patricia.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Patsy is a diminutive of Martha. The history of Martha gives this family its wider story. In biblical stories, Martha is associated with the sister of Lazarus and Mary.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Patsy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 127,161
- 7,713 boys · 119,448 girls
- Most popular year
- 1941
- 4,868 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #6,059 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +31%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 0% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,059 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 31.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 4,788 in 1941. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 62,123 as a first name in 2020; 306 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.
Patsy’s family of names
In English usage, Patsy is a diminutive of Patricia. Patsy has a related form in Patrick. Patsy is an affectionate form of Patricia.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Patrickfull form · English
- Marthafull form · English
- Patriciafull form · English
- Pattsylikely variant
- Patsyelikely variant
- Patsievariant · English
- Pattsielikely variant
- Patssylikely variant
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Across languages 9
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Pattyequivalent
- Patriziaequivalent
- Pattieequivalent
- Patrycjaequivalent
- Patequivalent
- Patricieequivalent
- Patryciaequivalent
- Patrīcijaequivalent
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People named Patsy
- Patsy ClineAmerican country singer (1932–1963)
- Patsy KensitBritish actress and pop singerborn 1968
- Patsy Reddygovernor-general of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021born 1954
- Patsy MinkAmerican politician (1927–2002)
- Patsy KellyAmerican actress (1910–1981)
- Patsy Ruth MillerAmerican actress (1904-1995)
- Patsy ElsenerAmerican diver (1929–2019)
- Patsy O'Connell ShermanAmerican chemist1930–2008
- Patsy RowlandsActress, singer (1931-2005)
Characters named Patsy: Patsy Walker (Marvel Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Patsy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Asenath
“she belongs to her father”
>99% girls
Ruthann
“compassion” · “a beloved companion”
>99% girls
Ruthanne
“compassion” · “a beloved companion”
>99% girls
Marth
“lady”
>99% girls
Gail
“a foreigner” · “one who is cheerful”
>99% girls
Mima
“our little dove” · “dove”
>99% girls
Mata
“lady” · “gift of God”
>99% girls
Gayle
“father of exaltation” · “the source of a father”
>99% girls