Would Patrick turn into Pat?

soon2Bmrspower · February 2009

One of our favorite names right now is Patrick. I love the name and also love that it is not super popular. However, I'm worried about him turning into a "Pat". I am really not a fan of Pat but love Patrick. What do you think?

thatgirlang · February 2009

Yes. For someone, somewhere, sometime in his life, it would. I like to think that whether or not nicknames stick is more up to the parents OR the child. But you just never know. HE might like Pat when he is older and choose to go by it himself.

oneartsymama · February 2009

All of the Patricks I have known were called Pat. I always called them Patrick b/c I'm not crazy about Pat either.

It's almost impossible to keep people from shortening a name...stinks but it's true.

Why not use Patrick as a middle name?

soon2Bmrspower · February 2009

oneartsymama:

Why not use Patrick as a middle name?

I like that idea, but since DS #1's middle name is after my Dad, we are planning to use Riley as the middle name this time after DH's Dad. I am against using Riley as the first name (because I think of it as more of a girl's name) so therefore it is pretty much set as our middle name.

mma1029 · February 2009

I'm sure someone, sometime will call him Pat and it'll probably stick because people like nicknames. He might like it himself - with any name that has known NN's (Thomas = Tommy/Tom, Robert = Bob/Rob, William= Will/Bill etc) someone's always going to use it

JChandlerJBates · February 2009

Most Patricks I know go by Pat, but I had the same issue with Andrew. I hate Andy as a nn for some reason, so DH and I agreed we would call him Andrew and hopefully that would stick.

tinideni · February 2009

I think if you love Patrick I say go with it...just know that someone at some time will call him Pat. He may even decide he likes Pat better...

My brother is a Patrick and my parents named him that with no intention of calling him Pat. He is an adult now and still goes by Patrick. If someone calls him Pat he just polielty tells them that he prefers Patrick...

soon2Bmrspower · February 2009

JChandlerJBates:
Most Patricks I know go by Pat, but I had the same issue with Andrew. I hate Andy as a nn for some reason, so DH and I agreed we would call him Andrew and hopefully that would stick.

I agree with you on Andrew/Andy. We really like Andrew as well, but not Andy. Although, I do like Drew as a nn.

Melissa070707 · February 2009

I really think that in the begining, if the parents call the kid Pat, theat would stick. But if the parents are always calling him Patrick, then it would be that. I knew a Patrick, and he was always just Patrick. I can't even imagine him as a Pat.

People are lazy when it comes to names though. I have people at work who will occasionally call me Mel. That said, I named my daughter Jillian, even though I do NOT care for the name Jill. I say if it is a name you love, definitely use it, then use it how you want to!

Melissa070707 · February 2009

Forgot to say, nn could also be Rick/Ricky. Do you like that any better?

cabana1 · February 2009

This was our concern too. However, DH's name is Richard and EVERYONE calls him Richard. Very few people call him Rich (me and a few close friends do but that is it). So, we are going to call him Patrick, request that the family call him by his full name, and if he wants friends to call him Pat that will be up to him.

soon2Bmrspower · February 2009

cabana1:

This was our concern too. However, DH's name is Richard and EVERYONE calls him Richard. Very few people call him Rich (me and a few close friends do but that is it). So, we are going to call him Patrick, request that the family call him by his full name, and if he wants friends to call him Pat that will be up to him.

I like your thinking ) I also like how we are both approximately 25 weeks along and thinking of naming our babies Patrick - too funny!

AllThatGlitters101 · February 2009

I had a few classes with a Patrick...never Pat.

I think most people clarify if they have a nn or not. My sister could, but she just tells them, "No, actually I go by ______."

hipstrix · February 2009

My husband and I had the same conversation last night! My dad's Patrick and everyone calls him Rick. My husband is Rich and his dad is Ricky. So, someone would probably end up calling our baby Pat. We're thinking it'll be his middle name for this reason.

houndbaby · February 2009

Every guy I know named Patrick goes by Pat

Lauryn216 · February 2009

I have a Patrick as a student and everyone calls him Patrick.

Kflie83 · February 2009

I think it's more up to the parent or child. Usually people call you what you introduce yourself as.

DarcyLongfellow · February 2009

I think it can if you want it to, but I do not think that it's one of those automatic nicknames (like Mike for Michael). I've known plenty of Patricks that go by Patrick, not Pat.

finn07 · February 2009

people shorten names even when you don't want them to. you could insist on Patrick, but premptively offer a rarely-used alternative nickname, like Rick or PJ for those who won't leave good enough alone (including future teammates). i like Patrick a lot though.