WHAT’S IN A NAME – ‘PATRICIA’ Throughout history, various cultures have held that our name holds the key to our personal power and our future. In Roman times it was said, “Nomen est omen, in english, Names are destiny”. Mystics and elders of many other cultures believed that if one knew another’s ‘true’ name, one would have power over that person. People in some cultures went so far as to give infants a public name and a secret name, in order to protect them.
PATRICIA IN MY LIFE
My first daughter had to be named Patricia. It was my mother’s name and I wanted my daughter to carry it as well. My mom died in 1975, at age 40.
POPULARITY
When my mother was born in 1935, Patricia was the number 3 most popular name for baby girls. When my daughter was born in 1984, it was 411th. The 1990 US Census showed that Patricia was the 2154th most common female name in the United States. Queen Victoria’s granddaughter was named Princess Patricia, and this popularized the name at the beginning of the 20th century.
ORIGIN
The name Patricia is of Latin origin. Derived from the Latin word patricius, it means noble or aristocrat.
VARIATIONS AND PRONOUNCIATIONS
Variations in this proper name include: Patrisha; Patrycja in Poland; and Patrizia in Italy.
Various pronunciations include: pa-TRISH-a (English), pah-TREE-syah (Spanish), pah-TREE-thyah (Spanish), pah-TREE-tsee-ah Italian.
There are many short forms including: Pat, Patsy, Patti, Pattie, Patton, Patty, Pherick, Trecia, Tresha, Trixie, Tricia, Trish, and Trisha. My daughter’s short form for her name is Icia, pronounced ish-ya.
Name: Patricia in Chinese characters: 帕特里夏
The name is spelled Pinyin in English, but pronounced, Pà té lǐ xià.
NUMEROLOGY
The numerology of the name Patricia, (this spelling only), is 5.
Talents and strengths associated with 5 include being bold, daring and persuasive. Also, enjoying the finer things.
Traits to be careful of: restlessness to the point of boredom and being easily distracted.
Tendencies with five: searching for new opportunities, taking chances and trying it all.
A person might express numerology of 5 in their life by becoming a public figure, working in media, or developing a new idea for small business
NAMESAKES
Saint Patricia was a young noblewoman of Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). She escaped an arranged marriage by fleeing to Rome, Italy and becoming a Catholic nun. In later years she died in Naples. She is the Patron Saint of Naples and her feast day is August 25. My daughter’s birthday is August 26. I didn’t know about Saint Patricia when I named my daughter.
One First Lady of the United States of America was named Patricia, though it was not her birth name. First Lady ‘Patricia’ Thelma Catherine Ryan Nixon, 1912-1993. Thelma became known as ‘Pat’ because her father called her his ‘Little St. Patrick’s Day’. She was born on March 16, 1912. Patricia was the First Lady from 1969 to 1974.
Some other famous people named Patricia include:
• Patricia C. Wrede, one of my daughters favourite authors;
• Patti LaBelle, Grammy winning singer;
• Pat Benatar, Grammy winning rock singer;
• Patty Duke, Academy award winning actress
• Princess Patricia of Connaught, granddaughter of Queen Victoria
