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Original poster

Catriona?

64 replies

badg3r · 06/09/2020 17:53

Thoughts on this? If shortened would probably go with Nina...

I know I know it's not the done thing to discuss shortenings on MN but it happens anyway in my family and they tend to stick, so I may as well pre-empt it 🤪

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LaTomatina · 06/09/2020 21:19

Beautiful name.

I knew lots growing up (in Scotland). They always pronounced it either Katrina or Ka Trio Na (but never Ka Tri Owner, they were all very clear about that).

Original poster
badg3r · 06/09/2020 21:13

@SeanCailleach thanks for the explanation! Can I ask, have you heard Nina as a nickname?

I am a bit surprised by how many people don't know how to say it, didn't realise it was so misrepresented outside of Scotland but I guess since it's not a super common name it's unlikely that people will know many.

OP posts:
Crimblecrumble1990 · 06/09/2020 21:12

I went to school with a Catriona - cat-tree-oh-na. She spent forever correcting people who used to say Katrina. I've never heard of that being the correct pronunciation!

lakesidefall · 06/09/2020 21:12

It is the traditional Scots spelling but not I think the traditional Gaelic spelling which would be "Catrìona" I understand.
Most Scots aren't Gaelic speakers and the dc I know with the name certainly aren't so they have followed the Scots spelling.

Katherine might be easier OP although less distinctive, personally I prefer Catriona.

SeanCailleach · 06/09/2020 21:05

I thought the o was only there to make the n broad, and the t needs an i in front to make it slender (Sorry non-Gaelic speakers. Broad and slender consonants is a thing in Gaelic). Catríona hurts my inner pedant. I'd feel calmer with either Caitríona or Katrina but your kid your spelling. Whichever way I LOVE Nina as a nn.

OchonAgusOchonO · 06/09/2020 20:48

@lakesidefall - just wondering is that the traditional Scottish spelling too? In Irish, you can't have a broad vowel (a, o, u) and a slender vowel (i, e) on either side of a consonant so it's Caitríona rather than Catriona. I'm curious as to whether the same rule applies to Scots Gaelic?

Lots of names here have anglicised spellings and I assume it's the same with Scottish names?

OchonAgusOchonO · 06/09/2020 20:44

@WildfirePonie - My DP says it sounds like Cat Tree Owner

Given it doesn't end with an r, that's quite a stretch.

The Irish pronunciation is Ka-trina with a slight o between the i and n. It's also spelt differently though. It's Caitríona in Irish.

Main diminutives here are Triona or Riona, both again with the slight o sound.

PatriciaPerch · 06/09/2020 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WildfirePonie · 06/09/2020 20:37

@OchonAgusOchonO
Because i'm thinking it's pronounced Cat-ree-Ona, as another pp mentioned. But that is incorrect? My DP says it sounds like Cat Tree Owner Grin

OchonAgusOchonO · 06/09/2020 20:25

@WildfirePonie

I don't know, sounds a bit like.. Corona

How do you pronounce it?

If you don't know how to pronounce it, why on earth would you state it sounds like Corona?
NellyJames · 06/09/2020 20:18

@DramaAlpaca Confused I know how to pronounce it.

OchonAgusOchonO · 06/09/2020 20:11

@Grufallosfriends

you sort of glide over the 'o' sound, it's there but very subtle.

Confused

Newsflash @Grufallosfriends : Words in other languages are pronounced differently to english. Amazing you find that so confusing.
DramaAlpaca · 06/09/2020 20:07

@Grufallosfriends @NellyJames read @florascotia2's post above yours. She describes the pronunciation better than I did.

lakesidefall · 06/09/2020 20:05

As a Scot it is a perfectly normal name but it is going to get mangled out of Scotland I suspect judging by the replies here.

NellyJames · 06/09/2020 20:00

@Grufallosfriends, no it’s pronounced ‘Katrina’.

NellyJames · 06/09/2020 19:59

@badg3r, yes I’m in England. But I’m sure I’ve seen and heard it many times. I certainly knew to pronounce it properly and I was surprised at how delighted she was at this.

Grufallosfriends · 06/09/2020 19:59

you sort of glide over the 'o' sound, it's there but very subtle.

Confused
florascotia2 · 06/09/2020 19:57

Sorry, but that forvo clip just sounds American to me. Where I live - West Highlands - Catriona quite a popular name, especially among older people, and they say Kat-REE-nah or Kat REE-uh-nuh . If the latter option, the 'uh' is hardly voiced at all; the two syllables are run together.

Insane bordering on racist. Mocking other languages is not a good look.

Grufallosfriends · 06/09/2020 19:57

Pronounced Cat-ree-Ona?

I can't see how Nina would be an obvious nickname?!

DramaAlpaca · 06/09/2020 19:56

It's spelled Catriona or Caitriona in Ireland. It's pronounced similarly to Katrina but not quite, you sort of glide over the 'o' sound, it's there but very subtle. It's a nice name, quite old fashioned though.

I was at school in England with a Catriona so I know how to say it. Lots of teachers didn't and it used to annoy her when they constantly got it wrong.

NellyJames · 06/09/2020 19:55

Never heard of Nina and the Neurons? She’s Catriona.

Oneandabean · 06/09/2020 19:25

I’ve never seen it spelt like that so I’d say it cat-ree-ona. Only seen catrina or Katrina.

Nina doesn’t really sound like an obvious nn but if you like it it’ll stick I’m sure.

Boireannachlaidir · 06/09/2020 18:58

Like it but never heard of it being shortened to Nina.

GoneFishingAgain · 06/09/2020 18:49

Yes I like it, it's a pretty common name where I am.

Another pronunciation is Cat-RO-na, which I'm not so keen on.

PatriciaPerch · 06/09/2020 18:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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