Patsy

Updated: July 13, 2022 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Patsy is a beloved classic baby name. Sweet and nostalgic in tone, Patsy has remained in staple in popular culture for generations. Patsy Stone is a main character in the Absolutely Fabulous series, and Patsy Montana was also the stage name of singer Ruby Rose Blevins. Keep reading to learn more about this name.

Meaning of the name Patsy:

Latin: Noble, patrician, aristocrat
Middle English: Perseverance, diligence, endurance
Greek: Glory of the father
Italian: Born on Easter, born during Passover

Origin of the name Patsy:

Patsy is a charming name with several possible origins. Foremost, Patsy is the short form of Patricia (or Patrice). This name derives from the Roman Latin word Patricius (meaning “nobleman,” “patrician,” or “aristocrat”). Pasty is also a nickname of Patience (meaning “perseverance” or “endurance”) as well as a nickname of Cleopatra (a Ptolemaic Greek name that means “glory of the father”).

During the Georgian era, Patsy was a common nickname for Martha (meaning “lady”). This resulted from the naming convention that changed the initial letter “M” to “P” for feminine nicknames. Other examples of this convention include the nickname Peggy (for Margaret) and the nickname Polly (for Mary). Historically, both Martha Washington and Martha Jefferson became known as “Patsy” due to this naming practice. Finally, Patsy is a remains a nickname for Pasquale within the Italian diaspora. This name is the Italian variation of Pascal (meaning “born on Easter” or “born during Passover”).

Symbolism of the name Patsy:

Patsy is a short form of Patricia (meaning “nobleman” or “aristocrat”). During the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, the symbol of the nobleman was the white toga.