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Do you need to be Irish to use the name Patrick?

26 replies

orderinformation · 13/03/2013 22:16

I love the name Patrick but neither dh nor I have any Irish roots whatsoever. Do you think you need an Irish connection to use it?

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rundontwalk · 13/03/2013 22:17

No,def not! Lovely name :)

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seeker · 13/03/2013 22:18

Absolutely not.

We do, but I don't think it's considered very Irish. We've certainly never been asked about it in 12 years.

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Shr0edinger · 13/03/2013 22:19

No!

There are people called George, Andrew and David in Ireland if that helps.

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BOF · 13/03/2013 22:20

No, no more than you'd have to be French to use Louis. Different if you spelt it the Irish way, I suppose, but it's common enough as an anglicised name, I think.

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lalalonglegs · 13/03/2013 22:53

No. Do you need to be Welsh to use the name David?

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FairyArmadillo · 13/03/2013 22:54

No. I know a Patrick who is Southeast Asian.

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orderinformation · 13/03/2013 23:01

Ah but David is old testament so not Welsh, just adopted by the Welsh.

Am not pg. just had baby two months ago. Used the boys name we had chosen for dc1 who turned out to be girl. Now idly wondering about names if we had a third.

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badtime · 13/03/2013 23:20

Patrick isn't an Irish name, it comes from Latin. St Patrick wasn't even Irish (he was probably from the part of Britain which is now Wales, or possibly Cumbria).

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Festen · 22/03/2013 12:28

Patrick is popular in Ireland but you definitely don't need to be Irish. My brother Patrick is named after my great grandfather who was Irish but I also have a brother with a Scottish name and a brother with a Welsh name, that just leaves me with my English name! Not sure what my parents would have done if they'd had a fifth!

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Startail · 22/03/2013 12:33

No, but please don't shorten it to Pat. Pat is a ladies name.

Pat the male dog in the Janet and John reading books Confused me totally Pat was DF's mum!

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gilly86 · 22/03/2013 12:34

No you don't need any Irish connection!!!!!!!!

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DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 22/03/2013 15:18

No don't think so, in the meantime enjoy your new baby!

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badtime · 22/03/2013 15:42

Pat is not a women's name, it is unisex like Sam or Alex. Patty is feminine and Paddy masculine, though.

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squoosh · 24/03/2013 11:11

It's definitely a name most associated with Ireland and most Patricks I've come across have been Irish but you certainly don't need to be Irish to use the name, as someone said above it's not actually Irish in origin, more in association.

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FortyFacedFuckers · 24/03/2013 11:38

I know at least 3 Patrick's the same age as my DS 7 and we are Scottish

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woopsidaisy · 24/03/2013 12:20

Im Irish, and called Pat.
I am always told it is a boys name!
Grin

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GranToAirMissiles · 24/03/2013 12:27

No, but people might think there is an Irish connection. If you are ok with that, then fine.

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PurpleStorm · 24/03/2013 14:24

No Irish connection needed.

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VBisme · 24/03/2013 14:28

Patrick is a lovely name, DB best friend at school was Padrick, NN Patch.
I thought the Irish speeling was Paidraig (apologies, I'm probably totally wrong).
The only Irish Paidraig I know is NN Patsy, which is definitely considered feminine this side of the Irish Sea wanders off into irrelevance

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serin · 24/03/2013 18:42

I thought it was a French name Blush and I am half Irish!

I have one and he is 11.

Used to call him Patch until he started to frown at me Grin

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MammaCici · 24/03/2013 20:49

The name and spelling "Patrik", is very popular here in Sweden.

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rainbunnieseatingalltheeggs · 25/03/2013 14:21

Padraig would be Patrick in Irish,so i think you would be safe to use it

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TidyDancer · 25/03/2013 18:49

I have a family member named Patrick who was nicknamed 'Irish' when he was at uni. It's stuck a bit! Not even remotely Irish family though.

I love the name. :)

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RobbinyoureastereggsSparkles · 25/03/2013 18:57

Pat is a lady's name? Poor Postman Pat! :o Wink

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JamieandtheMagicTorch · 25/03/2013 20:20

DH is Patrick. Not Irish

GREAT name, IMO

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