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Baby names

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

Original poster

Catherine or Kathryn?

85 replies

kardacheyenne · 03/06/2022 22:18

Pros and cons? Is one harder to spell? Is it harder for a Catherine to be Katie? What about Katharine or Katherine or Cathryn even?

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SchoolThing · 04/06/2022 16:53

Honeyroar · 03/06/2022 22:34

I like Catherine personally. I don’t like Kathryn. Weird really as they’re pronounced the same!

Me too! You’re right, it is weird. I am attached to how words look as well as sound. For reasons unknown to even myself I prefer the look of a C.

TheOGCCL · 04/06/2022 16:49

I think Catherine works better with es and Katharine better with as. I like Erin and Reeney as shortenings but that doesn't work with as or ryns.

mommandme · 04/06/2022 16:33

"greenbirdsong
I would go with Katherine or Catherine.

The Duchess of Cambridge is a Catherine with a C and known as Kate.

Agree with this"

Except I thought she was never called Kate in real life, only ever Catherine? I thought Kate was made up by the press for easier headlines???

alpaca44 · 04/06/2022 16:29

greenbirdsong · 04/06/2022 08:32

I would go with Katherine or Catherine.

The Duchess of Cambridge is a Catherine with a C and known as Kate.

Agree with this

Cominghome1230 · 04/06/2022 16:26

PrincessesRUs · 03/06/2022 22:19

I'm biased - I'm Katherine - obviously think it's by far the best!!

Totally agree with this 😁

Hugasauras · 04/06/2022 15:29

www.peterboroughmatters.co.uk/local-news/katharine-or-catherine-or-katherine-of-aragon-whats-in-a-name-13

She signed her own name in various ways too I believe, but often with a K to start.

ladygindiva · 04/06/2022 15:15

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 04/06/2022 14:24

Katherine of Aragon was faux?? 😱

Show quote history

I thought it was Catherine of Aragon.

ZenNudist · 04/06/2022 15:14

I prefer Catherine. Lovely name.

ladygindiva · 04/06/2022 15:12

Oh and I LOVE Cate as a shortening, like Blanchett, prefer the look of it to Kate which I know is weird!

ladygindiva · 04/06/2022 15:10

I like them all but Catherine is my preference; I can't even tell you why for sure. I think a part of me feels it's more authentic?

SecondBestBed · 04/06/2022 15:08

threecupsofteaminimum · 04/06/2022 12:08

Definitely Catherine. It's just classier, K names are a bit faux and American and that dreaded K obsessed family esque for me now, sorry.

The K spelling is the original - from the Greek, I thought.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 04/06/2022 14:24

threecupsofteaminimum · 04/06/2022 12:08

Definitely Catherine. It's just classier, K names are a bit faux and American and that dreaded K obsessed family esque for me now, sorry.

Katherine of Aragon was faux?? 😱

KirstenBlest · 04/06/2022 14:10

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 04/06/2022 14:02

@Luredbyapomegranate Kathryn is not a modernised way of spelling it. It’s a traditional spelling in Scotland and like you said Wales.

Not true about Wales. Don't know about scotland.
No K in Welsh or Gaelic.
It's a 1960s type name

Sunscare · 04/06/2022 14:07

Katherine

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 04/06/2022 14:02

@Luredbyapomegranate Kathryn is not a modernised way of spelling it. It’s a traditional spelling in Scotland and like you said Wales.

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 04/06/2022 14:00

3monkeybars · 04/06/2022 08:48

I'm Kathryn and it's lovely but you ALWAYS have to tell people how to spell it, and when I say "Kathryn with a K and Y" they quite often don't get it. That said I prefer it to Catherine 😂

Snap! Despite having to spell it I love the spelling Kathryn.
It’s a more popular spelling in Scotland so I’ve never had to spell it up there or to my Scottish colleagues

Alwayspaintyournails · 04/06/2022 13:56

Catherine would be my preference.

Geranium1984 · 04/06/2022 13:56

Much prefer Catherine

Fifthtimelucky · 04/06/2022 13:55

threecupsofteaminimum · 04/06/2022 12:08

Definitely Catherine. It's just classier, K names are a bit faux and American and that dreaded K obsessed family esque for me now, sorry.

I know many people love to hate K names these days, but I think Katharine and Katherine are perfectly respectable.

resm · 04/06/2022 13:54

If she’s going to be a Kate anyway, you could also have Kathleen. I also know a Cait (from Caitlin).

TidyDancer · 04/06/2022 13:19

Katherine is the nicest, followed by Catherine then Kathryn imo. Really dislike the spelling with an 'a' in the middle, just doesn't read right to me.

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/06/2022 13:02

Catherine or Katherine, whichever you prefer

Many Catherines are Kate (eg Middleton) but Cate for C Catherines is gaining ground.

Kathryn is an uncalled for modernised spelling. Although I did once get told it’s the usual one in Wales (no idea).

I love Katharine, which is an old spelling, but it would be a pain compared to the standard two.

yikesanotherbooboo · 04/06/2022 12:45

Any of these can be Kate or Katie.
Don't complicate things , either Catherine or Katharine.It's a lovely name.

muddyford · 04/06/2022 12:42

Catherine or Katharine.

Porkmore · 04/06/2022 12:39

Kathryn is the right way to spell it Smile