Patricia, of Latin origin, translates to "noble" or "patrician." It was traditionally used as a surname denoting someone of high rank, but over time, it evolved into a feminine given name. The name Patricia gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century and remained among the top 1000 names for girls in many English-speaking countries until the late 1990s. It is often shortened or nicknames as Pat or Trish. Some notable figures with the name include Patricia Highsmith, an American-British novelist known for her psychological thrillers like "The Talented Mr. Ripley," and Patricia Arquette, an Academy Award-winning American actress.
"Patricia was quite popular as a baby girl's name in both 1946 and 1962, with five births recorded each year, resulting in a total of ten babies named Patricia during those two years."