Patrice is a French masculine given name derived from the Latin word "patricius," which means "of noble birth" or "noble." The name was originally used to describe members of the Roman patrician class, the highest social order in ancient Rome.
The name Patrice became popular in France during the Middle Ages and has been widely used throughout Europe since then. It is still a common name in many French-speaking countries today.
In some versions of its spelling, such as Patrick, it has also become popular in English-speaking countries, particularly Ireland where Saint Patrick is celebrated annually on March 17th.
There are no specific historical figures associated with the name Patrice beyond Saint Patrick, who was not actually named Patrick but rather used it as a missionary name. Despite this, the name continues to be beloved by many and remains a popular choice for parents looking for a classic yet distinctive name for their child.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Patrice has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century in the United States.
The earliest data available starts from 1914, with 7 births recorded that year, followed by another 7 in 1915. The number of births fluctuated between 5 to 20 until 1946 when there was a significant increase to 193 births. This marked the start of a period of high popularity for the name Patrice.
The name's peak popularity occurred between 1946 and 1958, with the highest number of births recorded in 1958 at 1511. This was followed by a decade of relative stability, with birth numbers ranging from 700 to 900 annually.
However, from the early 1970s onwards, there has been a steady decline in the popularity of the name Patrice. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the number of births had dropped below 500 per year. This trend continued into the new millennium, with fewer than 30 births recorded annually between 2000 and 2014.
Despite this decline in popularity, Patrice is still being chosen as a baby name today, with 9 births recorded in 2023 so far. It's clear that while the name may not be as popular as it once was, there are still parents who choose it for their children each year.