Catherine - Cate.

[Mumblyboo]

DH has suggested Catherine.... I do like the name, IRS traditional and sounds strong yet feminine but in the sea of beautiful frilly names out there I worry its a bit dull.... Also I can only imagine it with Cate as a shortening as Kate seems like entirely different name. What advice/opinions can you give me ladies?

[jobwoes]

I know what you mean about Kate seeming like a different name but because it's a well-established nickname for Catherine I think it's ok. You could always spell it Katherine or Katharine (one of these, though I forget which, is actually the most common spelling). I also really like Kitty as a nickname for Catherine/Katherine/Katrina/Caitlin.

[bananamummy]

When it comes to labelling school clothes etc. I think it helps if the nickname and full name have the same initials. I would therefore use
Katharine/Kathryn/Katherine - Kate
Catherine/Cathryn/Catharine - Cate

[squoosh]

Kit/Kitty/Kathy/Kate/Cate/Kat/Cat/Kay/Katie/Katy

[Sparrowfarts]

I love Catherine with a C (Dd's middle name), but don't like Cate, though Kate is lovely.

I don't thinking matching initials matter - labels can say Catherine Surname or Kate Surname - I'm sure Amelia/Milly & Elizabeth/Beth manage.

[Littlecherublegs]

Catherine and Cate are both lovely!
I think the C somehow makes it more feminine, softer... I like it.

[MummyBeerest]

I like it. I say go for it.

[KatAndKit]

If you prefer Kate with a K why not just go for Katherine with a K? Although i do think that Kate is fine in its own right if you prefer it to Katherine

[Mumblyboo]

Really dislike Katherine with a K. I don't mind Kate, I just think it looks wrong as a shortening for Catherine.... But I love Kitty which I think is adorable for tiny tots whereas Catherine is a name to grow into.....

[Mumblyboo]

Good to see I make complete sense and am not at all contrary today.....

[sausageandorangepickle]

What about Cat as the shortening? especially if you like Kitty too......
Kitty as a baby
Cat as a teenager and casually as she grows up
Catherine as a professional woman

[BlueBowTie]

Kitty, catty, cat, cate, Kate, Katie, cathy - Catherine is lovely.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I have a Catherine who is shortened to Cate or Catey. Its old and Scottish.
I mentioned it on here and got aaccused of making it up, but if you type Catey into fB there a hundreds. I love it. Im also a Catherine and would HATE to be called Kate.

[MrsMongoose]

Surely what you are looking for is Cath or Cathy?

[JustBecauseICan]

Thing is, it's rarely the parent who gets to decide either the nickname, or its spelling.

I prefer the Cathering spelling. Most Catherines (and other spellings thereof) end up these days as Cat anyway, rarely as Kate or Kitty and only those over 30 are Cathy.

[JustBecauseICan]

CatherinE obviously.

[AlansCatalanCat]

Cathy? You never seem to hear that nowadays. When I was young, Catherines (any spelling) were usually called Cathy or Kathy. Kate was very unfashionable as a shortening.