Patrice is a masculine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Roman family name Patricius, which was derived from the word "patres," meaning "fathers." The name was originally used to denote the descendants of the patricians, the highest class in ancient Roman society.
The name Patrice has been popular throughout history and across various cultures. In France, it was commonly used during the Middle Ages and remained popular throughout the 20th century. It is also a popular name in Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Patrice. One of the most famous was Saint Patrick (also known as Patricius), who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. Another notable figure was Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who played a key role in its independence from Belgium.
Today, the name Patrice continues to be used around the world, although its popularity has waned somewhat since the mid-20th century. It remains a strong and distinctive name with a rich history and meaning behind it. Whether you're considering naming your child Patrice or simply have an interest in names and their origins, this name is one that offers plenty of intrigue and significance.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Patrice in the United States, it's clear that the name has seen varied levels of popularity over several decades.
The name's peak popularity appears to have occurred between 1960 and 1972, with a significant increase from just 11 births in 1960 to a peak of 35 births in 1970. This period saw consistent high numbers of babies named Patrice each year, indicating that it was a popular choice during this time.
However, the popularity of the name began to decline significantly after 1972. From 1973 onwards, there were fewer than 25 births per year for the name Patrice until 1984 when it reached its lowest point with just 8 births recorded that year. This downward trend continued into the late 1980s and early 1990s, reaching another low of only 7 births in 1993.
Interestingly, after this low point, there was a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Patrice during the mid-to-late 1990s, with numbers fluctuating between 6 to 24 births per year from 1996 to 2008. However, since then, the popularity has once again declined, with fewer than 10 births recorded each year from 2009 onwards.
Overall, while the name Patrice was once quite popular in the United States, particularly during the late 1960s and early 1970s, its popularity has since waned significantly. Despite this decline, it is still being chosen for newborns today, with 5 births recorded most recently in 2023.
It's always fascinating to observe how the popularity of names can ebb and flow over time, reflecting societal trends and preferences.