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Baby names

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

Original poster

Katherine or Catherine

62 replies

Wishfulmakeupping · 05/02/2014 09:19

Which spelling do you prefer? I like both and Kitty as a nn.
Please note Im not expecting just very broody Grin.
Also if you think either would go better with Georgia my dd's name
Thanks

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TheOriginalSteamingNit · 05/02/2014 16:14

K is 'more classic' because it's from the Greek.

HenriettaMaria · 05/02/2014 16:11

C is much more classic. Isn't the original name from the Greek, though, and, as there was no 'K' used in Latin, it became Catherine? That is what I've always understood; so you could argue that Katherine is the original and Catherine, the variant.

I'm a Katherine - and it always is Katherine, not Kate, Katy, or whatever.

I had an aunt called Katherine and she was always Auntie Kitty. I also have a cousin who is Catherine and she is Cathy.

We like a bit of variety in our family.Smile

hootloop · 05/02/2014 16:07

I always thought it was Catherine and always ripped it out of my cousin Kathryn for not being able to spell her own name.
I was a mean child.

enriquetheringbearinglizard · 05/02/2014 15:25

Of Henry VIII's wives there were three Catherine/Katherines weren't there, was it a C and two Ks?

tammytoby · 05/02/2014 14:24

Normally mumsnet is very much against K spellings of C names as well as hating names that 'have to be spelt out' constantly.

I know more Catherines/Catharines/Cathryns than I do Katherines/Katharines/Kathryns but I suppose either spelling is 'allowed'.

Personally I would choose a name that has ONE obvious spelling!

GlitzAndGiggles · 05/02/2014 14:21

The Kathryn I know goes by Kitty and Kate as nn. My mum had a friend called Cathy and she was a nasty little witch! So I don't like Cathy for that reason Grin

TheFantasticFixit · 05/02/2014 14:16

I'm a Katherine! I love the name Kitty, wish I could use it but would be a bit ridiculous with my full name!

TamerB · 05/02/2014 14:15

I like Catherine best but if you want a K nickname I would use Katherine. They are both nice.

Innogen · 05/02/2014 14:06

C is much more classic.

KatAndKit · 05/02/2014 13:44

I think you can gather my opinion by looking at my talk name!

Anne of green gables also agrees that K is the way to go.

Wouldn't worry about the nickname issue. You never know what she will want to be called, she might not go with your choice of nickname when older. Anyway he whole initials thing isn't doing Kate Middleton any harm.

SorrelForbes · 05/02/2014 13:37

Katharine (also biased!)

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 05/02/2014 13:28

You could call me Kate instead but I'd have to kill you! Grin

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 05/02/2014 13:22

Catherine shortened to Cate.

ShadowFall · 05/02/2014 13:19

I prefer it spelt with a K.

newyearhere · 05/02/2014 13:16

If you're using Kitty as Nickname I'd use Katherine as full name, to keep the same initial.

Foxsticks · 05/02/2014 13:12

the and known

Foxsticks · 05/02/2014 13:11

I know a Katherine who is known as Kitsy which I think is really nice. I like thr Kathryn spelling too, my MIL is Kathryn and kmown as Kathy.

enriquetheringbearinglizard · 05/02/2014 13:04

I like the name, but I don't have a spelling preference, whatever makes for the better initials I suppose.

I don't see a problem with choosing either and announcing that she will always be known as Kitty. Infact you could just tell everyone her name's Kitty and then if anyone questions it say she's registered as the more formal K or C name, but she's to be known as Kitty.

I guess when she's older either she or her friends will choose what she's known as anyway. One of mine was known by all her friends as Kiki for ages, just because one friend couldn't say her real name Grin it just evolved that way.

Original poster
Wishfulmakeupping · 05/02/2014 12:57

Arohaitis any name ideas to go with Georgia very welcome :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Wishfulmakeupping · 05/02/2014 12:56

If it was to be the name then kitty would be announced together i think, my cousins dd was announced as Elizabeth 'Betty' Surname so along those lines?

OP posts:
bunnynose · 05/02/2014 12:22

Definitely Catherine. It look so much softer and prettier!

You can still have K nicknames, they are well known will the C spelling. I have a Catherine, she is Katie at the moment, but I also like Kate and much prefer Cathy with a C if she wants to use that when she is older.

Lots of other names have different initials to the full name like Bob, Bill, Becky, Lexi, Bella, Liz etc. so it's not a problem.

MissWimpyDimple · 05/02/2014 11:36

Definitely Katherine. Catherine seems wet to me!

WhichNameShouldIUseForThis · 05/02/2014 11:35

Do your friends call you Kate as well though, or just your family?

IMO it's the nickname being very well used by friends, colleagues etc. that causes the problems - the more public the nickname is and the less you use your given name in casual social contact, the more you end up needing to choose the initial for the nickname as the one to use, and then the less people recognise the given name as also you, so the more you use the nickname - it's a bit of a vicious circle!

I actually like my full given name but hardly ever get to use it because the different initial makes me look like a different person in anything written down and just confuses people.

I think if it had the same initial I'd have more flexibility to sometimes put my full name, because the nickname would really obviously look like a shorter version of the full name rather than a different name altogether.

Mintymoomoo · 05/02/2014 11:03

Catherine - my name and I much prefer the C spelling, the few I knew with K were just horrible, my nn is Kate and family always call me this

MarysDressSways · 05/02/2014 11:01

My friend is a Catherine and goes by Kate, there are no rules with nicknames!

I think I prefer Katherine to look at!