Holding steady.
Popularity of Pasty since 1927
Babies named Pasty per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1956, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Pasty's real moment was 1931.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 11 |
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 16 |
| 1950s | 62 |
| 1960s | 29 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Pasty is a vintage diminutive of Patricia that saw its peak popularity in 1931, though it never broke into the top 1,000 names nationally. After its peak in the 1930s, usage steadily declined, and by 2025 it ranked unlisted, with fewer than 5 babies per year receiving the name. The name has remained stable in its obscurity, never experiencing a revival. Pasty is essentially a phonetic variant of the more common nickname Patsy, and like many -y endings of the era, it carried a friendly, informal feel. Its continued use today is extremely rare, making it a truly distinctive choice.
Pasty emerged as a pet form of Patricia, a Latin-derived name meaning 'noble' (from patricius). Its use peaked in the early 20th century, but it has since become rare, often considered a vintage nickname.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Pasty
Names that share Pasty's style, for a brother or sister.
