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Baby names

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Original poster

Catherine or Katherine?

91 replies

noblegiraffe · 16/10/2012 19:45

Which spelling do you prefer?

Also, could you call a girl Catherine and still shorten it to Katie or would that be weird?

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MummytoKatie · 20/10/2012 22:43

From my username it is obvious I have a strong view on this!

I think Catherine is probably prettier but we went for Katherine as a change of initials makes life more complicated.

We went for Katherine rather than Kathryn as she is known as Katie not Katy. (Cross out letters.)

We went for Katherine rather than Katharine as it is much more common and we didn't want it to be spelt wrong all the time. (As opposed to most of the time!)

We always planned to call her Katie though. And she has been Katie since she was born.

SomersetONeil · 18/10/2012 01:12

Catherine shortened to Kate is just fine. Catherine with a C is much more elegant.

Love Kate, but never been a fan of Katie.

ninjawomble · 17/10/2012 23:51

prefer Katherine - can use Kate/Katie/Kat as nn.

Catherine - Cath/Cate/Cathy as nn

i think "K" looks better if you want to use Katie/Kate as nn .

messtins · 17/10/2012 20:10

Katharine - shortened to Katie, Kath or Kat.

Spatsky · 17/10/2012 13:20

Kathryn is a pain as no one ever spells it correctly and they even get muddled when you spell it out to them and they try to add random letters for the hell of it.

That said I have only gone my Kate for a long time now.

Katiebeau · 17/10/2012 13:15

Trust me Catherine shortens to Katie just fine. Brilliant choice of name and nn. Wink

MrsJohnDeere · 17/10/2012 13:12

K looks nicer imho

DaddyPigsSecretAdmirer · 17/10/2012 13:09

I'm Catherine, known as Cat. I'd prefer to be known as Cate though, but nicknames stick! I'd definitely go with the 'C' spelling. As others have said, however, I'm obviously quite biased!

BikeRunSki · 17/10/2012 06:39

I like Kathryn best!

ThingsthatgoSgreekinthenight · 17/10/2012 05:26

I too am a Kathryn known as Kate. I also knew a Caroline shortened to Kate.

sashh · 17/10/2012 03:04

Catherine can be shortened to Cath, Cathy or Cate/Catie, but not Kate/Katie.

What about Kate Middleton?

Katharine - from katharis, greek for pure.

That's one meaning, the other is trouble.

Cathryn

Please don't

LonelyCloud · 16/10/2012 23:55

I like it with a K.

HappyTurquoise · 16/10/2012 23:52

Catharine

(college name)

BananaPhone · 16/10/2012 23:51

Also, Kat (the coolest NN going for this name imo) works way better with Katherine than Cat for Catherine.

1944girl · 16/10/2012 23:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 16/10/2012 23:49

Cathryn shortened to Cathy.

Graciescotland · 16/10/2012 23:47

I think the C looks nicer, I know a Caitlin that's shortened to Katie...

MooncupMishap · 16/10/2012 23:42

Katharine - from katharis, greek for pure.

youonlysingwhenyourewinning · 16/10/2012 23:36

Katherine.

Catherine can be shortened to Cath, Cathy or Cate/Catie, but not Kate/Katie.

Katherine can be shortened to Kath, Kathy, Kat, Kate, Katie, Kitty.

I think the 'K' looks nicer

BananaPhone · 16/10/2012 23:29

I defer to the definitive expert on names; Anne Shirley, of Green Gables, Avonlea:

"Well, one day when I happened to pick up a book of hers in the staff room and glance at the flyleaf I said, ?I?m glad you spell your name with a K. Katherine is so much more alluring than Catherine, just as K is ever so much more a gipsier letter than smug C"

ChristmasKate · 16/10/2012 22:39

I'm a Kathryn - just to add to the mix, but have always been known as Katie.

My mum used to be a hippy so I'm assuming the different spelling was due to too many Parma Violets Grin

TimothyTumblespring · 16/10/2012 22:38

Catherine, shortened to Cathy.

JustSpidero · 16/10/2012 22:36

I suppose I'm basing that on mostly knowing Katherine's at school and Catherine's now (am 37), also my mum is Kathleen which looks similar so the K just takes me back 20-odd years.

BiscuitNibbler · 16/10/2012 22:36

Katherine (due to Anne of Green Gables obsession when younger and now - she said with a C looked smug).

HeeeresThing3 · 16/10/2012 22:34

Also people seem to shorten it to whatever they want. My old friends and parents call me Kath, my newer friends call me Kat, my MIL calls me Cathy and some scots I knew years ago used to call me Katie.

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