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James (Jimmy) or Patrick (Paddy)

68 replies

iffyshortlist · 27/09/2013 08:31

We're struggling with names and have been for the past 8 months! James and Patrick (but Patrick would definitely be shortened to Paddy) are our current favourites. We're not overly bothered about popularity but do want a name that will suit all stages of life. Any thoughts...?

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Queenofknickers · 29/09/2013 18:57

I'm another one with a Patrick James Grin so both!!!!!

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iffyshortlist · 29/09/2013 18:13

Thanks for thoughts and opinions, there doesn't seem to be a clear winner and we still are no closer to deciding!!! The only thing we definitely know is he wouldn't be a Patrick James or a James Patrick in case we have another boy in the future and have used up both our favourites, which of course then leads on to a whole other middle name choice dilemma!

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Breezy1985 · 29/09/2013 16:08

I have a James, he's 7 and the only child one I know, know plenty of adults though and he was named after my grandad, he's just called James though his dad calls him Jimmy. He's the only James in his school, and there are a few Patrick's.

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Lastofthepodpeople · 29/09/2013 10:50

I meant only child I know who is a James. I know plenty of adults.

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Lastofthepodpeople · 29/09/2013 10:50

I have a James and he's the only one I know. I wanted to shorten to Jimmy because I love that (and my grandfather is a Jimmy) but DH was against, but now too much time has passed and I can't see DS as a Jimmy at all.

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Apparentlychilled · 29/09/2013 07:36

I'd go for Patrick though- lovely name.

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Apparentlychilled · 29/09/2013 07:35

I know an Irish George who is nearly 40!

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BikeRunSki · 29/09/2013 07:34

Patrick! Hugely underused, and all the better for it.

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aliciaflorrick · 29/09/2013 07:30

I have a James, but to me he is Jamie or Jim. At school, he gets Jamie, Jimmy or James. However we are in a non English speaking country and I think he gets jimmy because they can recognise that as a nn for James, where they've probably never heard of Jamie.

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curlew · 29/09/2013 07:22

Oh, and also PJ sometimes, forgot that!

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curlew · 29/09/2013 07:21

I have a Patrick. He was Patch until old enough to object, and after that he was Patrick. Never Paddy- we have lots of Irish family, and Paddy is still thought of as something English people think Irish people are called, IYSWIM.
He is Pat sometimes, Rick sometimes, Trick sometimes- but usually just Patrick. It's a lovely name, and very uncommon in England.

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tammytoby · 29/09/2013 07:11

All the Patricks I know are known as Pat.

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JazzTheDog · 29/09/2013 01:30

I have a Jimmy, he's been Jimmy since I got pregnant, birth cert says James though.

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aturtlenamedmack · 29/09/2013 01:23

I have a Patrick Grin so Patrick for me.

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TidyDancer · 29/09/2013 01:22

I have both in my family. The James is known as Jim (Jimmy for some reason makes me cringe) and Patrick is known as that most of the time. Occasionally Paddy but not much.

Both are lovely names, I just don't like your idea for a nn for James!

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Kormachameleon · 28/09/2013 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ceeveebee · 28/09/2013 23:10

I like Paddy best

We have a Roderick (Roddy) which is in a similar vein I guess!

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squoosh · 28/09/2013 22:38

Yep, PJ is very, very common in Ireland, as is JP.

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BasilBabyEater · 28/09/2013 22:28

I've known two PJ's in my life.

Short for Patrick James in each case.

Both Irish.

You could have both...

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liquidstate · 28/09/2013 22:21

I know a boy Patrick NN Trick.

Personally I prefer James/Jimmy as I can't stand Patrick/Paddy due to my alcoholic arse of a father. And yes he was Irish. Incidentally the name 'Paddy' is a UK word used to refer to Irish men in a derogatory manner. A bit like 'Taffy' and 'Jock' for welsh and scots blokes.

There's a George in my family who lives in Kildare.

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LoopThePoop · 27/09/2013 22:24

I will tell you now, I am in THE most southern part of the republic.
Under 40 in my immediate family there is one Patrick, one James, 4 Georges, at least 6 Andrews as it's a family name. Daves, Davids, Daithí's are all interchangeable in my world. Too many to count.

Don't be so fucked up in your own opinions thinking a name is one or the other people.
If you like it, do it.
If everyone picked the same name we'd all be called Jesus.


Patch is something you put on trousers.

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squoosh · 27/09/2013 22:12

But Pat is such a mimsy name, also, Postman Pat.

Paddy is solid and manly. Admittedly some of them are very solid in the beer belly stakes!

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iffyshortlist · 27/09/2013 22:09

I can see logically why Patch is a really cute nickname but there was a film out years ago called Patch Adams with Robin Williams. And he really gives me the creeps - a lot. Not sure why, he just does so purely on that ridiculous basis I could never call my son Patch!

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JoinYourPlayfellows · 27/09/2013 22:08

George Best

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AveryJessup · 27/09/2013 22:07

Patrick is a great name, a real classic, as is James.

Don't know about Paddy as a nickname though, it puts me in mind of some oul fella down the pub, with a beer gut on him the size of a minor asteroid. Pat is a good nickname.

I've met plenty of Irish Davids, quite a few Andrews and am aware of the existence of a couple of Georges in Irish public life. George Clooney has Irish roots!

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