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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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FanOfSpam · 01/10/2015 07:56

Aaliyah Reign is Katharine Jenkins' new baby's name. Poor sod.

KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth · 01/10/2015 07:51

I am weird about names but Catherine with a c shortened to Kitty with a K would bother me greatly. So I would vote Katherine. I like he spelling Kathryn but I knew a girl who spelled it that way and she said no one ever got it right.

Wishful80smontage · 01/10/2015 07:45

Fwiw kitty in Pride and Prejudice full name is Catherine with a C.

SorrelForbes · 01/10/2015 07:37

Definitely Katharine.

NapoleonsNose · 01/10/2015 07:30

I'm Catherine but my nn begins with K. I like both my names. I always use Catherine formally, but am known by my nn by friends, family and colleagues.

EugenesAxe · 01/10/2015 07:12

Aaliyah... did I hear that's one of the Real Housewives or whatever the programme is called? Hmm

My vote is Catherine. I think with a K the classic spelling is Katharine, so I think if you chose that way, at least use an 'a' in the middle. I think Catherine is more historical; more queens and stuff seemed to use that spelling (caveat, there seems to be a fair bit of debate about Henry VIII wives!).

Doublebubblebubble · 01/10/2015 07:08

I am a Katherine and I bloody hate it, always have. Its so stuffy and formal and looooooooong. Constantly get "is that with a k or a c"... And "how do you spell that??" i also get people and family mispronouncing it and i get called kaff-rin... (Im from the saaaouth you see!)

I have always been a Kate or a Katie.

AnnaMarlowe · 01/10/2015 07:00

Katherine

Fraggled · 01/10/2015 07:00

Katherine is my favourite.

mathanxiety · 01/10/2015 06:56

Weirdly, the six of them in DD1's elementary class spelled their name Kathryn. I like it better than Catherine by a long shot, but I like Katherine too. I don't like Cate. It looks contrived imo.

FanOfSpam · 01/10/2015 00:11

Mine are called Aaliyah and Reign.

Original poster
LadyStark · 30/09/2015 23:20

I prefer to think of the name as classic instead of uninspired but each to their own! Would love you to share your DC's inspiring names? It's not too late to spare my child Wink

I agree that Catherine feels softer and looks nicer but that Katherine is a better fit with nickname.

Maybe I will flip a coin?

OP posts:
BondGate · 30/09/2015 23:14

Katherine and Catherine are both currently well outside the top 100 girls names. So arguably quite unusual baby names.

Onedirectionarestillloved · 30/09/2015 23:04

Catherine.

Lots of nn start with a different letter.
Ted, Tony, Betty, Liz, Milly, Nell, Belle and so on.

I think spelling IT with a c looks nicer and you are less likely to have to spell it out.

Fanofspam- how is it uninspired?
I always imagine Catherine from Wuthering Heights when I think of Catherine.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 30/09/2015 22:38

Why should anyone disabuse you FanOfSpam? How odd Confused. Assuming you aren't considering calling your daughter Katherine or Catherine.

FanOfSpam · 30/09/2015 22:33

Oh please disabuse me of the notion that both versions are the most uninspired names in the world.

Chasingsquirrels · 30/09/2015 22:29

It is a name that you forever have to spell for people. Using the K form gives more variants, Catherine with a C isn't usually anything else, Katherine with a K could also be Kathryn or Katharine.
Combine it with a surname that always needs spelling and grrrrr.

Guess my name :)

nickelbabe · 30/09/2015 22:23

i prefer Katherine.

ashesandfire · 30/09/2015 22:18

I've always thought that Catherine looks so much nicer than Katherine. Less spiky somehow?! Softer.
I suppose that with Kitty as a nn it makes more sense to have Katherine but agree with wishful that there are plenty of names with nns that start with a different letter so not sure it matters.
You can spell Kate with a C ....Cate Blanchett

LaContessaDiPlump · 30/09/2015 22:16

Oh and the Kathryn I knew used to be referred to by her dad as Katy Cough-drop. As you do Grin

LaContessaDiPlump · 30/09/2015 22:16

Oh and the Kathryn I knew used to be referred to by her dad as Katy Cough-drop. As you do Grin

LaContessaDiPlump · 30/09/2015 22:14

Katerina!

I have a fondness for Kathryn though.

SmugairleRoin · 30/09/2015 22:12

Catherine is far nicer looking imo.

Daphnedolittle · 30/09/2015 22:05

Katharine is my favourite followed by Katherine, then Catherine. Least favourite is Kathryn.

BondGate · 30/09/2015 22:04

Katherine