Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Katherine

89 replies

StrawberryCat · 11/07/2018 10:50

We think we might have chosen Kate as our top fave name, but would probably want Katherine on the BC (I know we dont necessarily need to but at the moment DH is keen to). But what do you think of Katherine and how would you spell it?
Katherine, Catherine or Kathryn?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Belindabauer · 12/07/2018 14:22

I like the Catherine spelling best.
If you go for a K use ine rather than ryn .
It's great name.

BounceAndClimb · 12/07/2018 13:15

I'm southern and it's Kath-rin pronunciation here

EstrellaDamn · 12/07/2018 13:08

My daughter is 'just' Kate and she loves her names, and gets a lot of compliments on it. It makes a change from all the Katy/Poppy/Millie type names.

HoratioNightboy · 12/07/2018 12:58

Interesting that OllyBJolly's reference to the -een pronunciation also relates to Scots - maybe it is/was regional. I never heard the -inn pronunciation until the 80s and assumed people had just become lazy in how they said it, a bit like how Carolyn seemed to replace Caroline.

I'm not a fan of any of the shortenings, although Kitty is OK. My aunt (-eeeen) is known by just about all of them, but the most annoying one of all is Reen. (Note: not Rinn! Grin)

MikeUniformMike · 12/07/2018 11:53

Cait and Cate are awful.
I suppose Cait short for Caitlin is ok but not as short for Catherine.

OllyBJolly · 12/07/2018 11:32

I have a Katherine- beautiful, strong name that suits her.

The West of Scotland inlaws call her Caffreeeen.

itsclaire · 12/07/2018 11:31

Someone once told my mum that Katherine was southern and Catherine was northern 🤔

flippychick · 12/07/2018 11:28

Personally I prefer Catherine shortened to Cate or Cait.

Although K or C either can be shortened to Kathy / Cathy or Kath / Cath. Interestingly, I know a few Kaths , but no Caths.

Not sure this adds anything to the discussion though Smile

BounceAndClimb · 12/07/2018 11:27

I don't know a single Katherine who uses/likes their full name. I'd just go with kate.

Vanannabananna · 12/07/2018 11:24

I’ve got a 3 month old Kate, just Kate. I don’t like Kathryn, would never call her it so just went with Kate. It’s a lovely name and not many around.

Andthatsthat · 12/07/2018 11:23

I don’t like Katherine with any spelling. I know it’s a classic name, but it just sounds dated to me.

I love Katy for a little one, possibly moving to Kate as she grows. And for the record, I know quite a few Kate/Katy/Katie’s who are just that on their BC and they are a variety of ages, so the name seems to travel well through life

HumpHumpWhale · 12/07/2018 11:16

I'm Katherine but always known as Kate, or sometimes Katie (or Katey Baby to my mum. Even though I'm old now). I'd say just call her Kate. It's irritating having a full name that I only use for official documents. I don't hate it, but it's annoying.

itsclaire · 12/07/2018 11:16

I dislike the spelling “Katharine”. There is enough confusion over “Katherine with a c or a k?” Without adding another letter change. Plus, the pronunciation is different, people tend to say “KathARine” which sounds like a cough medicine or something. I know because this is my sister’s name and she hates the spelling!

Roomba · 12/07/2018 11:12

You have made a great choice, the best choice - is all I'm saying Grin

I'm glad there are so many variants of the name tbh. On my childhood street there were four of us all the sameish age. One was also in my class and there was another Catherine in my class to that didn't also live near me. It was a very popular name at the time it seems! But we were all spelled differently, so there was no confusion really. It's a timeless classical name with lovely short forms, so I'm glad to see a few more around recently.

From my experience, however you spell it, everyone will always misspell it anyway. It's not been a big issue in my life so far.

Rapidash · 12/07/2018 11:11

I'm another 'just' Kate. My parents wanted a name that couldn't be shortened, but in reality a lot of people call me Katy (until I correct themWink). Kate is a great name in its own right!

Original poster
StrawberryCat · 12/07/2018 11:02

Thanks all. Really interesting to read people's opinions. It looks like K has won out. Although I'm suddenly not sure about it as a name anyway!
I LOVE Kate, but dont love Katherine (or whatever spelling) so much. Although she would at least have options of nicknames - Kate, Katie, Kat, Kathy etc. I think I need to talk it over more with DH.

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 12/07/2018 07:34

I would just go with Kate tbh as any form of the longer version she'll always have to spell out.

sonnyboo · 12/07/2018 07:25

People always warn against names with multiple spellings but there seem so many with Kathryn, Katharine, Katherine, Catherine, Cathryn, Catharine... I'd probably choose another name with one spelling.

MsJolly · 12/07/2018 00:00

Or Kathleen is another version

Fifthtimelucky · 11/07/2018 23:53

Personally, I prefer it with a C. If using a K, I prefer Katharine to Katherine. I dislike Kathryn.

Thetimehascometo · 11/07/2018 23:43

I’m a Kate, but just kate on my BC and very happy that this is the case! My parents never had any intention to call me Katherine so just didn’t put it down 🙃

Zhx3 · 11/07/2018 22:57

I think my favourite spelling is Katharine, but they're all lovely.

essietopcoat · 11/07/2018 22:55

Katherine - it's more classic than the other spellings .

It's a pretty common name though..

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 11/07/2018 22:53

I like Kathryn.

NannyKasey · 11/07/2018 22:03

I'm Katherine and it's usually not shortened - tho I do get called Kath and Kathy at work occasionally. If you use Kate as a nn, at least she won't have a lifetime of her full name being spelled wrong like I have Grin