Patel

Borrowed from Gujarati પટેલ (paṭěl, “village headman”), which is from Sanskrit पट्टकिल (paṭṭakila).

• IPA^(key): /pəˈtɛl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛl

Patel (plural Patels)

1. A surname from Gujarati.
   • 2024 December 2, Jack Forrest, “Who is Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director?”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     As of late last week, some close to Trump believed it was a “toss-up” between Patel and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as to whom the president-elect would pick for FBI director, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

   • 2025 August 14, Anna Betts, “Alleged DC sandwich-thrower worked at justice department, attorney general says”, in The Guardian‎^[2]:

     In a statement posted on social media, Bondi said that the man, identified in court documents as 37-year-old Sean Charles Dunn, has since been fired. […] On Wednesday night, the FBI director, Kash Patel, said that Dunn had been charged with felony assault on a federal officer.

• Patil

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Patel is the 95^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 229973 individuals. Patel is most common among White (94.78%) individuals.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Patel”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.

• -petal, Plate, leapt, lepta, palet, pelta, petal, plate, platé, pleat, tepal