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Baby names

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Katharine or Charlotte?

38 replies

Ferret123 · 27/06/2012 13:40

Hi everyone,

I'm due in a couple of months and still can't make my mind up over a name, which of these do you prefer?

Katharine (nickname Kitty, because I love Pride and Prejudice!)
Charlotte (nickname Lottie)

I also like the spelling Katharine, with an a in the middle, but don't know if it's always going to be spelt wrong by everyone and be really annoying!

any thoughts welcome

x

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DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 29/06/2012 16:37

Both nice names but I prefer Katharine. More unusual not although there must have been loads born in the 80's as my sister was one of many at school! Katharine is the best spelling too imo.

BetterChoicesChair · 28/06/2012 22:41

Katherine. NN Kitty but also love Kath and Kate. Can't go wrong!

GetOrfMoiiLand · 28/06/2012 22:40

lol at sounds fat

CharlotteWasBoth · 28/06/2012 22:39

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Birdsgottafly · 28/06/2012 22:27

My DD's middle name is Catharine, we have a historical street with that spelling here, in Liverpool, so it isn't treated as unusual. most know that it is an old spelling of it.

She isn't named after the street, btw, it is a family name.

CatherinewithaC · 28/06/2012 20:11

Name changed so as not to 'out' myself, but my name may as well be Catherine Withersea as that is how I have to introduce myself!

The fact that my surname is also a bit of a pain and requires spelling out, means that just telling someone my name on the phone fills me with dread, as they try to catch up "oh with a C? Ok, and is that 'erine', oh ok and how do you spell the surname " then spelling out the entire name again, just to be sure.

Contrast Charlotte "Oh ok Charlotte" there's not much can go wrong with that one - a lifetime of easy phone calls and no misunderstandings!

SparkleFever · 28/06/2012 16:47

Agree with previous posters that Katharine is going to generate a lifetime of headaches. Sound-wise though, both are lovely.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 28/06/2012 13:11

Katharine is correct, but IME people will just say 'is that with a K or a C', and then assume it's 'atherine' - if you had a y, or an a, you would have to say 'it's K, and it's KathArine' every time. But if you don't mind that and want to be right, go for it!

My dds are older, but they know a lot more Charlottes than they do Kates/Katharines/Kitties.

darkfever · 28/06/2012 13:06

I like Katharine better.

exoticfruits · 27/06/2012 19:34

I like them both, but if you like Kitty I would much prefer Charlotte.

GruffVoiceDownTheChimney · 27/06/2012 18:56

Love Katharine, never liked Charlotte.

vodkaandcaviar · 27/06/2012 18:32

I had a friend called Katharine (all her siblings have 'normal' names spelled slightly differently too...) and no one ever spelt it properly.

DoingItForMyself · 27/06/2012 17:23

You might find a lot more Catherines/Katharines over the next couple of years for obvious reasons, so I'd be inclined to go with the less popular Charlotte if I were you. You don't want DD to be "one of the Kates" at school.

recall · 27/06/2012 17:21

Charlotte

Johnnydeppsnewmrs · 27/06/2012 17:19

Charlotte is better.

Roseformeplease · 27/06/2012 17:04

Not Kitty because in "Emma"the name is in a riddle as, "a fair but frozen maid" always puzzled me. Love Charlotte and Lottie. Would avoid unusual spellings. Good luck

MaisieM · 27/06/2012 16:57

GetOrf - I'm probably biased anyway as it's my name. People snigger when I tell them it means pure. I have no idea why...

I like telling Kates and Karens that their name is a derivative of mine Grin.

Yes, I always get asked about the spelling and (due to my determined mother) I am never a Kathy or a Kath.

AndWhenYouGetThere · 27/06/2012 16:54

Katherine with an e. Kitty is adorable.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 27/06/2012 16:54

oops

I don't like Lottie either - another black mark against Charlotte in my book.

The name always makes me think of ugly german princesses for some reason.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 27/06/2012 16:53

My MOTHER spelled my dd's middle name wrong once - Kathryn. Kathryn. My own mother.

Just goes to show that whatever happens someone is going to spell the name in a different way.

I don't like Lot

PineappleBed · 27/06/2012 16:49

I prefer charlotte but they're both nice.

Katherine or katharine she's gonna have to spell it all the time. But then that's true of do many names especially now people make up their on spellings so I wouldn't let that put you off.

WithACherryOnTop · 27/06/2012 16:45

Charlotte. I love Lottie.

I don't like Katharine at all.

NettoSuperstar · 27/06/2012 16:43

Katharine.
I love that spelling.

KatyJ26 · 27/06/2012 16:40

Katharine is the old English spelling - whichever way you spell it, she'll get asked how it's spelled - never bothers me, I always say, Katharine with a K. I love it

squoosh · 27/06/2012 16:36

They're both equally inoffensive, but also equally dull.

Sorry.