Paddy, not Patty (just in time)

**Nathan** · 20th March 13, 01:50 PM

So here's the thing. I know it's St. Paddy's Day, but I also know a lot of male Patricks who go by "Pat" (although I only know females who go by Patsy). I don't know anyone named Patrick who goes by "Pad".

By this logic, you can understand why people who are used to seeing "Bob/Bobby" "Jim/Jimmy" "Bill/Billy" "Will/Willy" "Jen/Jenny" "Tom/Tommy" would assume "Pat/Patty". Especially if they didn't know that Patrick comes from Pàdriag. It's a simple mispelling since "Paddy" is irregular as a diminuative in that actually changes the middle consonant in the English long form of the name.

**AJBryant** · 21st March 13, 09:54 AM

So how do you get "Maggie" from "Margaret"? "Jack" from "John" (and why does a one-syllable name NEED a diminuative? ;) )? "Dick" from "Richard"?

There's a reason they're called "Paddy wagons" and not "Patty wagons."

Yes, the nickname of "Patrick" is "Pat" -- but the holiday "St. Patrick's Day" will ALWAYS be "St. Paddy's Day" because THAT'S IRISH. ;)

**Nathan** · 21st March 13, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by AJBryant

So how do you get "Maggie" from "Margaret"? "Jack" from "John" (and why does a one-syllable name NEED a diminuative? ;) )? "Dick" from "Richard"?

There's a reason they're called "Paddy wagons" and not "Patty wagons."

Yes, the nickname of "Patrick" is "Pat" -- but the holiday "St. Patrick's Day" will ALWAYS be "St. Paddy's Day" because THAT'S IRISH. ;)

Clearly. I'm just saying people who get it wrong are making an honest mistake and not deserving of such ire.

Also, where I live it's morphed into simply "Paddy's Day", which, given the fact that it venerates alcohol, the colour green and other Irish stereotypes and almost nothing saintly, "Paddy's Day" is somewhat à propos. lol.