Catherine or Katherine or with 'a's instead of 'e's...

Exactly what MadCatLady said!!!

I'm Katharine with a K at the start & an A in the middle. I've never found it an issue at all - I would say that on the whole people tend to spell it with an A in the middle. I use a shortening (which the whole wide world can spell) day to day anyway.

I don't think I've ever met a Katharine/Kate/Cathy/Kitty/Cat who didn't like her name, so that has to be a good thing.

tuesdaynightclub phredd it is!

messtin surely you mean Phredd?

I know women with each of the spellings and they are all nice. You can't be precious about people spelling it wrongly in cards etc though, I get every spelling there is but it doesn't really bother me. Even had 'Kafrin'! I also get called Kathrine (to rhyme with shrine) and Kathleen on a regular basis. That's the West of Scotland for you!

My sister is a Katharine, and she's always had to spell it, but it's a lovely name. She's Kath to family and Kat to friends most of the time anyway. I think there are so many variations C/K, a/e, ryn/rine that whichever way you choose they are likely to have to specify.
Nowadays people spell perfectly obvious names in daft unique ways so even if you are called Fred you may have to spell it for some people.

I know a Catherine who is called Kay!!!!
Even her parents call her Kay-why???The name begins with a C in her case.

I love my name, spelt Katherine never shortened. Not a major problem to spell it out, and I think it's a lovely, classic name.

Always have to spell my name, K and a Y here!

My friend is christened Catherine but always known as Katy. This is actually problematic at times as it means her initials are different depending on whether she is being formal or not! I actually prefer it with a C but think if you are planning on Katy as a shortened version you may be better starting with a K.

Sorry - meant "even if you have the most common variant" not "the most common surname"!

If you are called Catherine / Katherine etc you are always always going to have to spell it, even if you have the most common surname (not even sure which variant is most common). I spend a lot of time saying "with a C and an "e" in the middle".

It doesn't bother me that much tbh, even though I had to spell out my maiden name too (despite it being a very common English word) and now I have to spell my married name (as it's a very unusual name no one has ever heard of).

If you like the name, I'd go for it.

My DMum wanted Katherine for me and was having the same sort of problems when trying to decide on spelling, K or C etc. In the end my Grandad said for goodness sake if you're going to call her Kate for short, just call her Kate.

I am just Kate :o

DD2's middle name is Katherine as that's just the way I prefer it.

Of the people I know, including me, with this name, there are:

4 Cath/Kaths
3 Kathryns
1 Kate
2 Cathys
1 Kat

Not saying which is me!

I personally found it annoying that I was named 'Kathryn' but then my parents called me 'Katy' for the whole of my life, so I have never, ever been known as Kathryn. Only on forms. I don't really get this 'choosing a different name when you're older' thing.

I prefer Katharine although goodness knows why, they all sound the same

I really like it as a name however it's spelled and I love it best when the owner likes to be called the full version and not Kate/Katey etc.

I'm a Katherine, and generally say "Katherine, with a K" when someone needs to write my name down. Most people seem to spell it correctly that way, but I do sometimes have to add "ERINE" when they struggle.

I don't mind the occasional mis-spellings I get, and love the fact that I've been able to use Katie, Katy and Kate as nicknames as I've got older and Katherine when I feel like being official.

Just don't call me Kath!

Mine is spelled Catherine (totally outing myself, but who cares!) and I've have many variations on the nicknames, none of which really stuck. I've been called Kate (by mum) Katy (by dad and a couple of BFs), Caf and Caffers by my brothers and Cat by my lovely mates (my fave NN!) Oddly stbxh didn't really use my name at all now I think of it but when he did it was always the full version, which never seems as friendly to me somehow.

My preference is Catherine!

Katharine is the best way (biased as my dd's middle name is that). It is based on the original root of the name - katharos, Greek for pure.

I'm a Katharine and never a Kath, Kathy or a Kate. My niece is a Kate though (not short for anything). Although I do have to spell my name I do like the spelling as it's a little different. I don't think it's a burden.

I'm always a bit curious why some people called Catherine then use a derivative that starts with a 'K' and vice versa. Kate Middleton is a good example I guess.

I am a Kathryn, but always called Katy.

When I named my son, I have to say, I went for a name that couldn't be misspelled or shortened!

Anyone called Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn/Catrin is going to spend their whole lives spelling the damn name, so an a rather than an e makes very little difference.

Exactly - I'm Kathleen and my entire life I have had to spell my name so an 'a' instead of an 'e' in the middle won't be an issue!

It's not a burden at all and it's given me lots of options - at different stages in my life I've been "Katie" "Kat" and "Kathy." I'm actually considering going back to "Katie" when we move to another town