Holding steady, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Pate since 1901
Babies named Pate per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2003, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Pate's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 29 |
| 1920s | 26 |
| 1930s | 11 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 7 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 17 |
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 48 |
| 2010s | 67 |
| 2020s | 34 |
Meaning & origin
Pate is a rare Scottish and English name that began as a nickname for Patrick. Its recorded use as a given name in U.S. Social Security data dates back to 1901, when it achieved its peak rank of 7,679. Since then, it has remained exceedingly uncommon, with no resurgence in recent decades. The name never appeared among the top states, reflecting its scattered usage. In 2025, only about 1 in 170,808 boys were named Pate, a frequency that has remained relatively stable over the past century. As a surname-derived given name, Pate has a practical, no-frills quality but lacks the wide recognition of Patrick or its other diminutives.
Pate is a Scottish surname derived as a pet form of Patrick, ultimately from Latin Patricius meaning 'nobleman'. It was also used as an English surname meaning 'son of Pate' and occasionally as a given name, particularly in Scotland. The name has been rare as a first name since the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Paite, Pait
Sibling names for Pate
Names that share Pate's style, for a brother or sister.
