The Patricks of Ireland have left a formidable mark, but new parents appear to have moved away from using that name
We used to be a proud nation of Patricks so what is going on? The chart below using Central Statistics Office data tracks the gradual demise of Patrick as a favoured name for new babies. At the same time, though, Paddy - one of the 20 different variations on the name to be found in the CSO database of baby names in Ireland - is on the rise. The name first appeared in the database in 1988 and there were 60 babies named Paddy recorded in 2022.
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So, where have all the Patricks' gone? Why has Patrick fallen out of fashion with new parents? Why is Paddy on the rise? And will Patrick make a return in years to come?
In this week's Brainstorm podcast, presenter Ella McSweeney goes on a quest to find out what's behind Irish baby names and why some names rise and fall in popularity with Dr Dylan Connor from the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University and Dr Clodagh Tait from the Department of History at MIC Limerick.
READ: What Irish children's names reveal about us
READ: Why we choose the same names for our babies as everyone else
READ: The changing fortunes of an Irish name
READ: Noel, Stephen, Holly, Nollaig: the names we give our Christmas babies
The credits: this RTÉ Brainstorm podcast series is presented by Ella McSweeney, research is by Hazel O'Leary, the producer is Adrian Carty and it was recorded by Shane Dempsey at Collaborative Studios. RTÉ Brainstorm is edited by Jim Carroll and the assistant editor is Aoife Ryan-Christensen. The series is proudly supported by Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
