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! Patrick nn Paddy (or whatever seems to suit or he prefers in time). Great name.

I like the name Patrick.
I'm in NI and plenty of Patricks/ Paddys here!
No-one I know here uses it as a slight or a tantrum. But abroad heard it as a reference to an Irish person but not so much that it would put me off.

Would definitely have Patrick as their name tho and Paddy as a nn.

Also I think you cannot worry about the nn thing too much as I have a different nn to the one associated with my name - not through planning. I think outside family my parents had no control of it!

Lovely name although I am biased!

Would go Patrick on birth cert and Paddy as nn.

Ah, just caught up with the latest opinions on here. Thanks all.

We'd definitely go for Patrick on the bc and let the nick name take care of itself. These things have a habit of evolving of their own accord.

MIL still hates it btw, keeps referring to the baby as whatever name she prefers that week. If she continues to do that when he's born I might start changing her name to something that better reflects her character!

Behooven
As long as your surname isn't Field
Or whack.
It's a lovely name!

Too right, hearth; back in yer box, MIL.

oh my xmil kept doing that. She wanted me to call the baby James after the man she had left my x's father for. James died, very sad n all, but it was insane the way she pushed that name at me!

Patrick is a classic name. Hating it seems extreme. Perhaps it's not her style but hating it seems xenophobic! Tell her that next time she complains

I love Patrick and Paddy.

Big name in my family, and I would have liked it for DS but alas exMIL's name was Patricia and I couldn't stand her.