Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Victoria or Katharine?

44 replies

winterwinter7999 · 04/04/2023 16:04

Hi, name for daughters: Victoria or Katharine?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
VeryQuaintIrene · 04/04/2023 20:12

Katharine as in Hepburn, so great! Katharine is surely the original spelling being from the Greek word for "pure". But I like Victoria too (my 3rd name.)

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 04/04/2023 20:08

Victoria Beckham manages to avoid all the naff shortenings.

DuchessOfSausage · 04/04/2023 19:33

I prefer the Katharine or Catherine spellings.
I like Victoria more than Katharine, but prefer Kate to Vicky. Cathy is due a comeback, but I don't like Cat, Cate or Kathy.

** DCat is known as DKitten

ourflagmeansdeath · 04/04/2023 19:23

Katharine, it's lovely although you will have to correct people a lot for spelling. Victoria isn't as nice.

Sometherusername · 04/04/2023 19:20

Love Katharine (especially that spelling).

Really not keen on Victoria.

DramaAlpaca · 04/04/2023 17:04

Katharine for me. I love that spelling, unusual though it is.

Shakirasma · 04/04/2023 17:02

If you choose Katharine, I'd advise spelling it the more well know way, Katherine.
Speaking as a Kathryn, every single time I have to give my name I'm asked "with a K or a C". I reply with "K A T H R Y N" but invariably by the time I get to R they've already written Katherine. So in my experience you would be lumbering her with a lifetime of mis spelling by using a rather than e.

TidyDancer · 04/04/2023 16:57

Katherine, but not with the second a spelling. I know it's a recognised alternative spelling but I'm just not keen.

Victoria doesn't have any nice shortenings imo.

Rauha · 04/04/2023 16:56

Victoria

So1invictus · 04/04/2023 16:54

Both are beautiful. Timeless and elegant.

TheSnowyOwl · 04/04/2023 16:54

Katharine but be prepared to spell it for people (regardless of which version you go for).

toastofthetown · 04/04/2023 16:52

With names like Victoria or Katharine I’d also consider which has more diminutives you like. The majority of Victorias and Cathe/arines I know go by diminutives. My favourite diminutives for each or Vita and Kitty, but I’d still avoid as I don’t like Vicky/Kate/Kathy. Victoria is simpler spelling wise, as (assuming you are in the UK) most people will automatically assume Victoria over Wiktoria or Viktoria, but there’s Catherine with a C, Katharine with a K and an A.

FluffMagnet · 04/04/2023 16:49

*it being Katherine.

cptartapp · 04/04/2023 16:48

Victoria over Katharine
Catherine over Katharine

FluffMagnet · 04/04/2023 16:47

It is not at all misspelled, but it is sadly the more "standard" spelling and will tend to be default throughout her life. I much prefer Katharine in terms of spelling OP, good for you.

I love both names - one is mine and the other was a strong contender for my last DC (who turned out to be a DS...)

GlassBunion · 04/04/2023 16:42

Katherine with an 'e.'
It looks like you've misspelled it otherwise.

It's a lovely name and has lovely variations for a nickname. Eg Kat, Kath ( a bit 60s but you don't hear of it much now,) Kate, Kit, Kitty , Kathy.

BevMarsh · 04/04/2023 16:09

Prefer Victoria but like Kate which would be the obvious shortening of Katharine.

I'd go Katherine nn Kate.
Both Vicky and Tori are undesirable.

Twoinapod · 04/04/2023 16:08

Katherine -spelled like that though.

Please don’t name your daughter Victoria, she will not thank you for it.

TomatoSandwiches · 04/04/2023 16:05

Katherine is nicer imo and has more varied and better sounding nick names.