Would it be mean to call a child Paddy?

[hearthattack]

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..?

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.

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

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

Love Paddy and Patrick. Go for it!

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

I'm lovin it more and more.

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

Patrick is a lovely name.

Op I love it and a lovely idea.

Go for it

Welsh language know it alls ????

That made me laugh and I am Welsh.

I'm trying to learn Welsh at the moment. Going for the whole two languages from birth thing. Most people are really supportive of my efforts, but some look at me like I'm a total moron for not remembering that y u and i sound completely different depending on what 25 other letters happen to precede them in that particular sentence.

Thanks onlyonescoop

I'm Irish, live in UK, and I know a few "Paddys' on both sides. I love it! Would have called one of my DSs Paddy, but our surname means it would be the same as a sleb.

Love the name Patrick, it was both my maternal grandfather's and my father's name. An uncle with that name has been called Pad, Paddy, or Padraig throughout his life.

Hearthattack, well done you. I'm not much of a Welsh speaker, can understand more but I'm supposed to be making more of an effort. Most Welsh people are helpful except 99% of those born in Gwynedd!!! Dai iawn

I love the name Patrick, but then I have numerous ones in the family. Brother (Patrick/Pat), cousins (Pat and Paddy Joe), uncles (Pat and Patsy), Grandfathers (Patrick and Pakki), and great grandfather (Patrick).

Yr wyf yn cyfaddef nad wyf yn fyfyriwr da iawn! Perhaps Patrick will be better. MIL is already extolling the virtues of Welsh language schools. But that's a whole other thread!

Loving all the Patricks and Paddys out there. I think we're going to go with what we like best and bugger those in the family that don't like it. Pretty soon the name with become synonymous with him and they'll love it anyway right?

Tricky is awful. Now that would be mean!

I like both Patrick and Paddy, good solid names. Paddy seems to be back in vogue for baby boys in Ireland.

I also hate the term 'having a paddy' (don't use that one if in Ireland).

I like Patrick. I know a Patrick and he's called Patch

Gorgeous name, Patrick, and with Saint Patrick thought to have likely been Welsh, the name's a nice link between Ireland and Wales. Go for it. Paddy's great, too.

Love it. Agreed that 'having a paddy' is a horrible expression, never heard it used in Ireland (or outside of MN for that matter)

Go for it! I have a Patrick, 9 months and I love the name even more now. He's Patch at the moment but I could see him being a Paddy when he's older. X

'Having a paddy is no less offensive' to me than 'paddy wagon' or 'bogtrotter,' all very imperialist and shouldn't be getting used anymore.

OP, I love Patrick - my grandad, cousin, nephew and second cousin were/are all (confusingly) called Patrick and my family is originally from Donegal. All of them were/are Pat for short, but Paddy is really nice. I would love to call any son I had Patrick.

love it its on our list for when we have more lil ones

Great name, Patrick, with Paddy for short.

Patrick is lovely, paddy fine as a nickname

Paddy is not a tantrum. It is a name. Nor will naming your baby paddy tempt "fate" into giving you a stroppy baby names have no effect on temperament. and there is no such thing as fate in the sense you mean

I like the name Patrick and know a couple of children called that. Also like the nn Paddy, but I'm not so sure that Paddy Adams sounds right (the repetition of the "ad" sound bothers me). So with that surname I'd encourage use of the full name, or a different shortening. Could be Patch, Pat, Trick or Rick