Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Unflip

1 2

Original poster

What do you all think about making a slight spelling change to a young child's name?

30 replies

myredcardigan · 06/08/2009 14:24

DD2 is Catherine. She is almost always Kitty. I now wish I had spelt her name Katherine as I think it would make things simpler for her and, actually, I think I now prefer the 'K' spelling. She is 1yr old. She obviously knows her name is Kitty and she also answers to Catherine but that wouldn't change. What do you all think? Am I mad? DH thinks so though he also prefers the 'K' spelling.

Looking for rational insight, thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mrsradders · 07/08/2009 18:46

i would say change it if you and DH both agree that you prefer it with a K, i personally prefer it with a K and it works with kitty.

I love the name Kitty but i'm not so keen having the full Katherine!!

fridayschild · 07/08/2009 18:38

I think as long as she is too small to know the first letter of her name you should do it if you want to.

totalmisfit · 07/08/2009 18:29

i much prefer Catherine with a 'C'. much more traditional looking. K's always look a bit common and make me think of Kylie, Kaylie etc but that's just blatant snobbery on my part i'm sure!

Niknak21 · 06/08/2009 22:37

I'm a Catherine, always known as Katie when small and Kate when I got to 'big school'. I've always known what my proper name is although my parents never used it. The 2 initial thing I quite like, I even used to have 2 signatures (soon grew out of that one!). It helps when I get junk mail, if it has K and is a catalogue I know to blame my MIL.

It's good to hear of others out there.

I now use the long name professionally, so it does come in handy and I feel I get more respect when dealing with bank managers etc.

All that said, change it, or you'll probably wish you had in years to come. But definitely keep the long name for her grown up life to come.

BottySpottom · 06/08/2009 22:15

Do it! Why not have a new name party or combine it with her first birthday party?

'You are invited to Kitty's first birthday party and to celebrate her changing her name from Catherine to Katherine' - to stop all the relatives getting it wrong time and time again.

Original poster

myredcardigan · 06/08/2009 22:03

Thanks everyone. I hadn't thought about her Christening stuff.

I think I'm just going to go for it. I'm sure I won't regret it but I know if I don't do it, it will niggle at me.

OP posts:

jellybeans · 06/08/2009 18:19

I would leave it too. It's the same name whether with a C or K. I considered changing spelling for one of my DC but never did as had all the christening stuff and baby memorabilia with the registered spelling on so stuck with it. At some point we preferred it and we are glad we stuck with it.

PrincessToadstool · 06/08/2009 17:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RustyBear · 06/08/2009 17:09

Do make sure you get round to changing it in the next 3 weeks - DH & I gave DS three names + surname and fairly quickly decided we didn't like the second name, but we never managed to get round to changing it within the year. DS doesn't like that name either & only uses his first & third names together with his surname - but most official documents seem to use the first 2 initials - so he's MJ Bear instead of MS Bear, which is what he's normally known as.

Hassled · 06/08/2009 17:03

I think you should do it. I've known 2 Catherines called Katie, and it's always seemed a bit odd to me.

pixiestix · 06/08/2009 16:56

Do it while it is still easy or it will drive you mad later on!

CillySunt · 06/08/2009 15:11

Yes, do it!

muddleduck · 06/08/2009 15:08

Go for it.
Get some "change of name" cards made up and send them to everyone you can think of.

My cousin's parents changed her name a few times and it drove us nuts as we never knew what we were supposed to call her

RumourOfAHurricane · 06/08/2009 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Ladyem · 06/08/2009 15:02

I've also had this dilemma! DD is Catherine and I always call her Katie. She will answer to both names, but I always regretted not putting my foot down and spelling it Katherine, as I love Kate as a nn when she's a bit older. But now she's 2 I don't mind so much and She can still be Kate/Katie/Kitty (LOVE this abbreviation, was my Grandma's name!!) or even Cat, if I leave it as it is!

You have to do what is right for you and like you say, it's not like you are changing her whole name, just the spelling! If it really bothers you that much I'd say just do it! You'll be happier in the long run!

allaboutme · 06/08/2009 14:54

Go for it. Sounds like the right thing to do all round

Original poster

myredcardigan · 06/08/2009 14:51

Thanks edam, you're right. You're all right! I think I'll just go for it. If I was doing the reg now, I'd definitely use Katherine so it's not as if I'm struggling to choose between the two names just between changing and the status quo.

OP posts:

weegiemum · 06/08/2009 14:49

She's 9, btw!

weegiemum · 06/08/2009 14:48

I would of course recommend Katherine every time, being the mum of one!

She has some stuff that says Catherine/Kathryn etc as people got it wrong! But she knows her name - though has recently asked to be known as Kathy.

edam · 06/08/2009 14:46

Sorry, Katherine!

edam · 06/08/2009 14:46

Agree with everyone else, changing it makes sense.

Never mind re. baby record book and footprints, she'll probably be entertained by the story when she's older. All my childhood stuff is labelled with a nickname that was used so consistently I had no idea that my real name was something quite different until someone mentioned it when I was seven... now that was a real shock.

But as long as she knows her official name is Catherine she'll be fine.

Original poster

myredcardigan · 06/08/2009 14:42

Awe thanks guys! I was expecting everyone to tell me I am mad to change an almost 1yr old's name. I shall show this to DH and try and book an appointment.
Telling my MIL will be a whole other matter.

My only slight niggle is a) her baby record book and b) he Imprints thingy on the wall says Catherine. Oh well!

OP posts:

pasturesnew · 06/08/2009 14:38

No harm in it, why not! Love every variation of Catherine actually.

Winetimeisfinetime · 06/08/2009 14:36

I would definitely do it - you prefer the 'K' version and it will make things a bit more convenient for her if she continues to be known as Kitty to have her first initial as a 'K'.

Original poster

myredcardigan · 06/08/2009 14:32

Katherine.

OP posts:

Unflip

1 2