NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Patsy

Diminutive form of the feminine name Patricia, derived from the Latin Patricius meaning "nobleman".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Patsy is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Patsy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1128, with 30 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 30 births.

This profile covers 412 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Patsy is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 410 living people in the UK are called Patsy. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Patsy ranked #1128 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 30 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 30 girls were registered as Patsy.
  • About 410 living people in the UK are estimated to have Patsy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.3% of Patsy registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1128

2024

Births in 2024

30

Latest year

Peak year

2024

30 births

Estimated living

410

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Patsy

In England and Wales birth records, Patsy has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.7% of registrations are for boys and 99.3% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

99% girls
Boys3 (0.7%)Girls412 (99.3%)

Patsy registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,789 in 2021
  • 3 boys registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2021 (3 births)

Patsy registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,128 in 2024
  • 30 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (30 births)

Meaning

What does Patsy mean?

Patsy is a given name of English origin, derived from the medieval diminutive form of the name Patricia. It emerged in the 16th century as a pet form of the Latin name Patricius, meaning "noble" or "patrician."

The name Patsy gained popularity in Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly among the working class and rural communities. It was often associated with a friendly and approachable demeanor, reflecting the informal nature of the diminutive form.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Patsy was Patsy Byrne, an Irish actress born in 1933 who was known for her roles in films such as Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) and The Gingerbread Man (1998).

Patsy Cline (1932-1963) was an iconic American country music singer and songwriter, widely acclaimed for her rich vocals and emotional depth. She is considered one of the most influential and groundbreaking artists in the history of country music.

In the literary world, Patsy Adam-Smith (1924-2001) was an Australian writer and historian, renowned for her historical novels and biographies, including her acclaimed work "The Anzacs" (1978), which explored the experiences of Australian and New Zealand troops during World War I.

Patsy Kensit (born 1968) is a British actress and model, best known for her roles in films like "Lethal Weapon 2" (1989) and "Angels and Insects" (1995), as well as her appearances in various television series.

Patsy Byrne (1933-2014) was an Irish actress, known for her roles in British television shows like "Watching" and "Blackadder II," where she portrayed the character of Nursie. Her career spanned over five decades, and she was recognized for her versatility and comedic timing.

While the name Patsy has become less common in recent decades, it maintains a distinct charm and historical significance, particularly in English-speaking countries, reflecting its enduring appeal as a friendly and approachable moniker with deep roots in the English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Patsy over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Patsy in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Patsy, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 30 births in 2024, compared with 30 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
08152330199620102024

Decades

Patsy by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Patsy was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1467 108 5
2010s #2151 142 10
2000s #2084 101 10
1990s #1263 61 4

Related

Names similar to Patsy

FAQ

Patsy: questions and answers

How popular is the name Patsy in the UK right now?

In 2024, Patsy was ranked #1128 for girls in England and Wales, with 30 births registered.

When was Patsy most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 30 babies registered as Patsy in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Patsy?

Diminutive form of the feminine name Patricia, derived from the Latin Patricius meaning "nobleman".

How many people are called Patsy in the UK?

A total of 412 babies have been registered as Patsy across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.