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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

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

39 replies

Nemonemo · 14/08/2012 07:42

... And does it even matter??

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imustbepatient · 14/08/2012 13:42

I like having the full name as it give me lots of options when growing up. I settled on Kate in my late teens but liked having the choice. The only time I have to spell it out now is for formal stuff, where they didn't have my name already. It's really not much hassle at all.

PeggyCarter · 14/08/2012 13:38

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hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 14/08/2012 13:35

My DD is Cathryn shortened to Cathy. We always wanted to call her Cathy but wanted to give her the option to use other diminutives if she chose to, for a long time she liked being called by the full version but has been Cathy now for a few years.

Original poster
Nemonemo · 14/08/2012 13:29

So, those of you called Catherine (or variant) has the name been a burden/annoyance? I think we'd plan on shortening to Katy day to day, but have the Catherine on the birth cert so that she could you Kate/Cathy/Catherine etc when she gets older if she likes.

OP posts:
GetDownNesbitt · 14/08/2012 10:38

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.

As long as you are OK with spelling mistakes. One year at secondary school I got 40 Christmas cards and almost as many variations on the spelling - I think about ten got it right, and those were my best mates!

SorrelForbes · 14/08/2012 10:00

IfElephantsWoreTrousers Yes, I'm sure you're absolutely right. Probably something my DM told me when I got fed up of having to spell it to everyone Grin

DoingItForMyself · 14/08/2012 09:34

Its bad enough having to say "with a C" or K every time, but then also having to add "with an a in the middle" then "yes, 'rine/ryn' at the end" it will take her all day to tell anyone her name. Its a pain! Call her Kate Grin

imustbepatient · 14/08/2012 09:11

I don't think it matters, just go with your preference. Mine is with a K and an e, hence pretty standard, but I always have to spell it out to people anyway. And that's without getting into the ryn vs ine ending (the latter is best in my view!)

sashh · 14/08/2012 09:09

Please use the most common spelling

babaloulou · 14/08/2012 08:22

I always thought catharine was the Scottish spelling? Don't tell me I've been wrong all these years!!

IfElephantsWoreTrousers · 14/08/2012 07:56

(p.s. Sorrel I don't think there is actually an "original" spelling as such - the name has been popular since long before we got the idea that a name should just have one spelling - e.g. Shakespeare himself spelled his own name any of a dozen different ways as the mood took him, because spelling wasn't deemed set-in-stone...)

IfElephantsWoreTrousers · 14/08/2012 07:54

I think K goes better with an A but C goes better with an E. The Katharine I know likes the fact that her name is a bit less vanilla than all the hundreds of Catherines there are.

SorrelForbes · 14/08/2012 07:47

I don't think it matters but I'm sure I've read somewhere that the original spelling is 'Katharine' (which may or may not be my name Wink)

simonthedog · 14/08/2012 07:44

I had a friend who was Catharine at school. I prefer it, but she didi have to correct everyone, it must have been really annoying.

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