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Baby names

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

Original poster

Katherine or Catherine?

86 replies

LadyStark · 30/09/2015 21:06

We can't decide.

Nickname is going to be Kit/Kitty so leaning towards Katherine as it feels more natural but wondered if there was a consensus on the best spelling?

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sandgrown · 01/10/2015 23:25

My mum was Catherine but always known as Kitty.

ClareDeLune · 01/10/2015 23:18

I worked with Catheryn. Never met another one with that particular spelling.

Onedirectionarestillloved · 01/10/2015 23:07

Would be so much easier if there was only one spelling of any name.

I have an uncommon name , maybe more common in other countries than the UK.
However there is only one traditional way of spelling it and at school nearly every Christmas card I got had my name misspelt.

I remember thinking that the kids had known me for years, yet still couldn't spell my name right. Some of the spellings didn't even make sense either!

MajesticWhine · 01/10/2015 14:20

I prefer Catherine, but obv Katherine makes better sense if you want those nicknames.

MyNameIsRonnieFuckingPickering · 01/10/2015 14:18

I know a Cathrine

fleurdelacourt · 01/10/2015 14:17

Sparechange - ahem let's just go through all the spellings...

Catherine, Catharine, Cathryn
Katherine, Katharine, Kathryn

And that doesn't even include some of the more unusual ones. There are loads of ways of spelling it, whether you start with a K or a C.

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 01/10/2015 12:40

'A' is more 'correct' but I think I've known more 'e's, so I'd probably assume that with a K as well as with a C, if I couldn't ask.

M4blues · 01/10/2015 12:29

Katherine or Katharine. It looks stylish and classy with a K.
Fwiw, if she told me her name was K then I'd probably assume a rather than e in the middle as I think the a is standard with the K.

sparechange · 01/10/2015 12:22

I'm a Catherine, and it isn't a nightmare name! I get asked if it is with a C or K, but agree with the other poster that said Catherine only has one spelling where as with a K, you would have to spell out th whole thing.
One of my best friends calls me Kitty and has done since we were small.

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 01/10/2015 12:17

It's not that hard to say 'K' when someone asks 'is that with a K or a C?' though! Or even to spell it, to eliminate 'e vs a' confusion. Even if your name is Jane Smith, you'll probably get the odd bod spelling it Jayne.

I can't think of many individuals I know who wouldn't sometimes need to clarify the spelling and/or pronunciation of either their surname or their first name on occasion, now I think about it.

I prefer K, anyway. More authentic and better with Kit/Kitty, or Kate.

MyNameIsRonnieFuckingPickering · 01/10/2015 12:16

Katherine.

Anne Shirley said that Catherine with a C looks smug. I agree.

fleurdelacourt · 01/10/2015 12:10

I'm a 'Katherine' but with a spelling which hasn't been mentioned here and which is very unusual.

As the other Katherines have mentioned - it is a nightmare of a name. Constantly being misspelled and people asking how to spell it. I have had so much hassle that both of my kids have names that can only be spelled one way.

If you are going ahead with this then at least choose a spelling that starts with K so that she has the right initial to be Kitty.

Bogburglar99 · 01/10/2015 11:05

My lovely friend of that name is adored by slightly pronunciation challenged DD who constantly talks about 'Kaff Rin' Grin

BeautifulLiar · 01/10/2015 10:14

Oh yeh - my DH said Kaff-rin during our wedding vows :( he's not even from the south!

BeautifulLiar · 01/10/2015 10:12

I'm a Katherine, known as Kat. I used to say that Katherine must be thw proper spelling because Catherine was Satherine (strange child!).

There will be a lifetime of "Is it spelt with a C or a K?" though...

bunique · 01/10/2015 10:05

We have a Kitty with a C formal name (never used really but wanted her to have the option when she's older). Irish heritage - I think K names for women were uncommon but C names shortened to Kitty quite often

helentheheron · 01/10/2015 10:00

I prefer Katharine (with a K and an a). Either is fine tbh, but I like a nn to start with the same letter as the full name (makes searching for email addresses easier - not exactly essential but helpful imo!)

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 01/10/2015 09:41

Whichever spelling YOU personally prefer - K works, but so does C because of the "Kitty Cat" thing. A lovely name, any way you spell it.

Bogburglar99 · 01/10/2015 09:36

Irrationally I like Katharine but there's no logic to that - pure personal preference.

I know a few Kathryns - I think the origin is Welsh but it had a wee bit of a vogue in the 70s so seems more dated than the other spellings?

Annecyinyourpantsy · 01/10/2015 09:15

As a Catherine with a K nickname.... People don't get it and I spend forever explaining it's with a C.

BoboChic · 01/10/2015 09:11

Catharine

Sadik · 01/10/2015 09:09

Katharine - K at the start, a in the middle Wink

But I'd say Catherine with a C is fine for Kitty with the logic Catherine > Cat > Kitty

celtictoast · 01/10/2015 09:06

Katherine if you're going to use Kit/Kitty.

DandyDan · 01/10/2015 08:59

I've seen both spellings with a K and a C for Katherine of Aragon and Howard and Parr. And there's "Katherine" - Anya Seton's novel about Katherine (de Roet) Swynford, mistress of John of Gaunt.

I know a Kathryne but I prefer the classic spelling Katherine and it's currently a much under-used name.

SconeForAStroll · 01/10/2015 08:14

I am a Catherine. I am either spelling or correcting the spelling of my name every time I use it. It is a total bind. And when the point was reached in history lessons about Henry VIII - well. Sad

actually I am a Cathy and hate that even more and tried changing it with no luck