Patrick in Irish: Padraig
The Irish form of Patrick is Padraig, a boy's name meaning “nobly born.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Padraig
- Meaning
- Nobly born
- Gender
- Boy
- Also spelled
- Padraic
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 25 for boys (2025)
How do you say Patrick in Irish?
Patrick in Irish is Padraig, pronounced PAW-drig. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said PAW-rik. Other spellings: Padraic.
What does Padraig mean?
Padraig means “nobly born.” Patrick is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Padraig: its meaning, origin and stories
Patrick in Irish legend
The huge Celtic Crosses rising from the Irish landscape embody the union between the old religions that St. Patrick found and the Christianity he brought to the island. Legend says the Saint traced a cross through the circle sacred to the moon goddess and created the symbol that now speaks of eternal love and the unity of faith and tradition in Ireland and the Irish.
Read The History of the Irish Celtic Cross
Long ago there lived a king called Lir. He lived with his wife and four children: Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra and Conn.
Read The Legend of The Children of LirHow popular is Patrick in Ireland?
In 2025, 183 baby boys in Ireland were named Patrick, which made it No. 25 that year. That's down from No. 16 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1965, when 2281 baby boys were named Patrick, No. 2 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 2235 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 183 | No. 25 |
| 2024 | 220 | No. 16 |
| 2023 | 221 | No. 19 |
| 2022 | 250 | No. 15 |
| 2021 | 266 | No. 19 |
| 2020 | 236 | No. 22 |
| 2019 | 262 | No. 20 |
| 2018 | 282 | No. 18 |
| 2017 | 300 | No. 17 |
| 2016 | 319 | No. 18 |
| 2015 | 350 | No. 16 |
| 2014 | 358 | No. 19 |
| 2013 | 369 | No. 16 |
| 2012 | 388 | No. 21 |
| 2011 | 390 | No. 21 |
| 2010 | 387 | No. 18 |
| 2009 | 399 | No. 19 |
| 2008 | 433 | No. 18 |
| 2007 | 402 | No. 19 |
| 2006 | 392 | No. 19 |
| 2005 | 381 | No. 18 |
| 2004 | 357 | No. 24 |
| 2003 | 343 | No. 19 |
| 2002 | 366 | No. 13 |
| 2001 | 365 | No. 17 |
| 2000 | 362 | No. 16 |
| 1999 | 343 | No. 18 |
| 1998 | 306 | No. 17 |
| 1997 | 553 | No. 11 |
| 1996 | 507 | No. 13 |
| 1995 | 543 | No. 9 |
| 1994 | 560 | No. 9 |
| 1993 | 621 | No. 8 |
| 1992 | 671 | No. 8 |
| 1991 | 631 | No. 8 |
| 1990 | 711 | No. 7 |
| 1989 | 739 | No. 5 |
| 1988 | 810 | No. 7 |
| 1987 | 870 | No. 6 |
| 1986 | 926 | No. 5 |
| 1985 | 938 | No. 6 |
| 1984 | 1074 | No. 4 |
| 1983 | 1110 | No. 5 |
| 1982 | 1107 | No. 4 |
| 1981 | 1217 | No. 4 |
| 1980 | 1218 | No. 5 |
| 1979 | 1227 | No. 5 |
| 1978 | 1166 | No. 5 |
| 1977 | 1227 | No. 4 |
| 1976 | 1264 | No. 4 |
| 1975 | 1310 | No. 4 |
| 1974 | 1443 | No. 3 |
| 1973 | 1484 | No. 3 |
| 1972 | 1523 | No. 3 |
| 1971 | 1705 | No. 3 |
| 1970 | 1674 | No. 3 |
| 1969 | 1797 | No. 2 |
| 1968 | 1850 | No. 2 |
| 1967 | 1915 | No. 3 |
| 1966 | 1963 | No. 3 |
| 1965 | 2281 | No. 2 |
| 1964 | 2235 | No. 2 |
Padraig in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Padraig, letter by letter.
- PPeith
- AAilm, pine
- DDair, oak
- RRuis, elder
- AAilm, pine
- IIodhadh, yew
- GGort, ivy
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Patrick
Questions about Patrick
- What is Patrick in Irish?
- The Irish form of Patrick is Padraig, pronounced PAW-drig. Padraig means “nobly born.”
- How do you pronounce Padraig?
- Padraig is pronounced PAW-drig. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- Is Patrick a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Patrick is a boy's name.
- How popular is Patrick in Ireland?
- In 2025, Patrick was No. 25 for boys in Ireland, with 183 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1965, at No. 2.