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Baby names

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

Original poster

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..?

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MrsBennetsEldest · 17/06/2015 22:30

Welsh language know it alls ????

That made me laugh and I am Welsh.

Only1scoop · 17/06/2015 22:17

Op I love it and a lovely idea.

Go for it

BonnieNoClyde · 17/06/2015 22:15

Yeh, that's not used in Ireland 'having a paddy'. I really hate that expression tbh.

Patrick is a lovely name.

Original poster
hearthattack · 17/06/2015 11:21

Tricky is great! Can't believe I hadn't thought of that.

I'm lovin it more and more.

OP posts:
haleandhearty · 17/06/2015 11:21

Love Paddy and Patrick. Go for it!

Socalled · 17/06/2015 11:12

Pomegranate, agreed on the racist slant to 'having a paddy', which again I'd not heard until I lived in England.

(I actually have pomegranate molasses unopened in my cupboard. A London friend gave it to me as a joke after I said after I left London for the depths of the countryside that I was probably a good hundred miles from being able to buy ingredients for the average Ottolenghi recipe Grin

BaronessBomburst · 17/06/2015 11:09

Patrick is lovely.
I remember the first time I heard MIL refer to someone as "Pakkie" though. I was Shock until DH explained that it's another nickname for Patrick.

Socalled · 17/06/2015 11:08

Go for it so! I also know a UK-based Patrick who's known as 'Trick' or 'Tricky' to his friends.

Tommy, has gaelscoil naming moved on past all the girls being called Aifric and Aingeal? I've been out of Ireland for a while.

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 Hmm.

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

Original poster
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).

OP posts:
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.

ChilliAndMint · 17/06/2015 11:02

I love the name Patrick, go for it!

TommySlimfigure · 17/06/2015 11:00

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

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 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!

Original poster
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 10:56

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.

Peacheykeen · 17/06/2015 10:53

I like Patrick if you like it go for it.

Hadron21 · 17/06/2015 10:51

I love the Irish spelling. Great name.

Behooven · 17/06/2015 10:50

As long as your surname isn't Field

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?

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.

Original poster
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!

OP posts:
Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 17/06/2015 10:38

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

Sophronia · 17/06/2015 10:19

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