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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Would it be mean to call a child Paddy?

58 replies

hearthattack · 17/06/2015 08:55

My Grandad's name was Patrick. Everyone called him Paddy. It's also my Dad's middle name. We're living in Wales very close to my DPs Welsh family and I like the idea of keeping something of my Irish roots. To me it feels solid, not trendy, good for a wee one and a grown man. No one else seems crazy about it though. In fact there's a distinct tumble weed moment followed by other helpful suggestions whenever we mention the idea to friends or family.

Would it be mean to call a child Paddy? Do people still see it as an insult for Irish people, or another name for a tantrum? Don't want to tempt fate for having a stroppy baby!

Honest thoughts please Mnetters..?

OP posts:

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WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 17/06/2015 08:56

Would you call him Patrick or just Paddy?

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 17/06/2015 08:57

Ps I see it as another name for a tantrum, sorry!

hearthattack · 17/06/2015 08:59

Patrick, Paddy for short. Haha, fair enough, that's why I asked!

I also really like Patch as a shortening for Patrick, but his surname would be Adams so apparently that's a no no thanks to some Robin Williams film I've never seen.

OP posts:

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 17/06/2015 09:01

Patrick is lovely, paddy as cute a nickname is fine. Paddy as a full name, not so much. (I definitely think tantrum when someone says paddy btw)

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 17/06/2015 09:01

I do actually really like Patrick but not sold on Paddy as a nickname (or any other nicknames for it to be honest!)

hearthattack · 17/06/2015 09:03

He would be Patrick. I'm not a fan of shortenings on birth certificates. Give the kid a choice eh?

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MrsMcColl · 17/06/2015 09:04

Love both Patrick and Paddy - I'd go for it.

scarletforya · 17/06/2015 09:04

Of course not. Patrick, Patch as Nick name. Love Patch and Pasty.

Sophronia · 17/06/2015 10:19

Patrick is a great name and Paddy as a nn is ok.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 17/06/2015 10:38

I don't see any problems with it at all.

hearthattack · 17/06/2015 10:44

Thanks all. I guess a name that isn't bang 'on trend' (urgh) will garner mixed opinion. MIL keeps suggesting other things, and has intimated that she will call him what she wants anyway. We'll see!

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 17/06/2015 10:46

I love Paddy.

Was considering it but didn't use it because it doesn't really go with our surname, and I would have had Patrick like you, but wouldn't have risked Pat which I hate with a passion. Patch is nice though.

SueGeneris · 17/06/2015 10:49

Many moons ago I used to babysit for a baby Paddy. He will be grown up now! His full name was Padraig IIRC - I'm guessing that's the Irish spelling?

Behooven · 17/06/2015 10:50

As long as your surname isn't Field

Hadron21 · 17/06/2015 10:51

I love the Irish spelling. Great name.

Peacheykeen · 17/06/2015 10:53

I like Patrick if you like it go for it.

TommySlimfigure · 17/06/2015 10:56

Call him Patrick. Patrick is a great name.

If paddy evolves, so be it. I don't think it's mean. So much nicer than a lot of the awful names that are used now.

hearthattack · 17/06/2015 10:58

Oooh, loving the Irish spelling! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Welsh language know-it-alls!

OP posts:

TommySlimfigure · 17/06/2015 10:59

SueGeneris, I know it's much trendier to use the Irish version and for say Dermot / Diarmuid I would agree! but Padraig is a translation I don't like.

Also the nick name podge or paudge that often results from Pádraig, ugh. Saying that I do know a ''paudy'' and it does him no harm!

Socalled · 17/06/2015 11:00

Patrick is nice, but (I'm Irish) Paddy as a short form/nickname is deeply in the province of whatever the opposite of 'grandad chic' is - 'grandad naff'?

TommySlimfigure · 17/06/2015 11:00

I live in between two gaelscoiles and the pretentious carry on! it would stop you in your iaronrods!

ChilliAndMint · 17/06/2015 11:02

I love the name Patrick, go for it!

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Socalled · 17/06/2015 11:03

'Peats' is another trad nickname. Pronounced 'Pats'. Padraig (sorry, can't do fadas - pronounced 'PAW-drig', roughly) is nice, too.

hearthattack · 17/06/2015 11:05

I quite like the idea if being deeply in the province of grandad naff! makes me like it more. it's also basically my DPs dress sense (he's 28).

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Pomegranatemolasses · 17/06/2015 11:06

DS1 is Paddy. He's 16 and there are a very few of his age group with the name also. It's a great name!

I never heard the expression 'having a paddy' until I joined Mumsnet. Always seems to have racist overtones to me .

Socalled I'm Irish too, and I can assure you it's not considered naff where I live - quite the opposite,

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