Fun Facts About the Name Patch
- 15 babies named Patch: U.S. records list 15 babies given the name Patch from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Patch Mean?
Patch is an English name with two independent sources. It is a word name taken from the common noun patch, which means a piece of material sewn over a hole or a small area of land. The noun is recorded in Middle English as pacche in the late 14th century. Its deeper origin is uncertain: it is often connected with Old French pieche or piece, meaning 'piece' or 'fragment,' but some sources suggest a Germanic source such as Middle Dutch patse, 'patch.' The literal sense of the word name is therefore 'piece of cloth' or 'patch.'
Patch is also a pet form of Patrick or Patricia. Patrick comes from the Latin name Patricius, meaning 'patrician' or 'nobleman,' from patres, 'fathers,' the Roman senatorial class. Patricia is the feminine form of the same Latin name. In this use, Patch carries the parent name's meaning, 'nobleman' or 'noblewoman.' The word-name origin and the nickname origin are separate, so the name can be understood in either way.
Patch Name History & Origins
The noun patch has been in English since the late 1300s, when it referred to a piece of cloth used to mend or cover clothing. The verb to patch is recorded from the mid-15th century. As a personal name, Patch is uncommon as a formal given name in English-speaking countries and is used more often as a nickname or familiar form. The pet-form use for Patrick or Patricia follows a pattern of English diminutives ending in -ch, as in Rich for Richard. It can also stand alone as a word name.
Patch is also an English surname. Surname references connect it with a nickname for someone who wore a patch, such as an eye patch, or with a place name taken from the noun. The given name draws on the same vocabulary, but its use as a first name is distinct from the surname's history. In modern popular culture, Patch is one of the Dalmatian puppies in Disney's 1961 animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians. That is a well-known film use, not the origin of the name. The American physician Hunter Doherty Adams is widely known as Patch Adams; the nickname comes from the ordinary word.
How Popular is the Name Patch?
Patch has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2021. Its best rank was #13,557 in 2013.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | #13,570 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,557 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #13,703 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with P
Short Boy Names That Start with P
How the Name Patch Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Patch's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Patch's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.