Patricia, derived from the Latin word 'patriarch', means "noble" or "noblewoman". It was introduced to Britain by the Normans and has been a popular choice for girls' names in English-speaking countries since the 19th century. The name Patricia reached its peak popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, where it consistently ranked among the top ten girl's names from the 1930s to the 1960s. In literature, Patricia is best known as the character created by P.G. Wodehouse in his Jeeves and Wooster series, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the name.
The name Patricia experienced a peak in popularity between 1950 and 1951 with seven births each year, but it remained consistently popular throughout the decades following, with five or more births annually until 1981.