Another nickname vs formal name discussion

Totally agree with GrendalsMum. I've always had a family nickname and used my full name at school/work, and only a select few people are allowed to call me my family name. No confusion (except when people try and call me by another shortening of my name which I don't use). My children both have formal full names and prefer the short versions (for now - they are 9 and 10) again they have no problem with using their formal names for formal occasions. It's not particularly unusual to have both a short and a long name despite the current fashion to just go for the nickname. Many people when they become adults do drop their family nickname/short form. My big sister for example was always known as a diminutive of her formal name, but as a teenager she decided she wasn't so keen and then changed to another short form of her name for friends, and the full name for work. If you can give your child the option I really can't see any downside. Kitty is known to be a shortening for Katharine/Catherine so I really can't see that as a problem.

I like Elisabeth/Elizabeth (and it's many diminutives) and I like Susannah a lot. Not so keen on Harriet (quite like Hatty) and don't like Lois very much.

Difficult one.
Personally I prefer Catherine to Kitty, and that spelling too!!!!
How about Katie as it seems more similar to Kitty? There again if you are certain to call her Kitty then perhaps just go for it.

I have a nickname which is somewhat different to my full name (like 'Kitty - Katherine' or 'Hattie - Harriet'), and it really isn't in the least bit confusing to have the two - I see them as identical. In fact, I was literally baffled by a conversation I had the other day with an elderly relative who always thinks of me as 'nickname' where she said to me "'full name' is so lovely, don't you wish you were called that?" and I was thinking "but I am called that, what are you talking about?"

I wouldn't worry about the confusion aspect - I've never in my life been confused by having bank accounts / doctors as 'full name', and I don't think my parents were.

I actually like to be able to draw a line with people as well, and to be able to choose who gets to call me by my shortened version of my name.

go with kitty!

If my parents had wanted to call me Kitty I would have been eternally grateful if they put Katherine on the birth certificate, and pretty peeved if they hadn't. I see no harm in giving the child a choice of name options when they get older, and I don't think it's confusing at all for bank accounts etc.

I love Kitty. It sounds a bit Jane Austen for an adult... but I love it anyway. People 'grow into' their names.

i love the name kitty - id have called DD kitty but my sirname wouldnt ever have gone with it! made her sound like a brand of cat food....

As a Catherine who has never actually been called Catherine since my 'rents decided to give me a 'proper long name' on my birth certificate but call me Katie, please give your child the name you intend on calling her!

I had/have loads of problems, at school I was registered as Catherine and when new teachers mentioned me nobody knew who they meant as none of my friends knew me as anything other than Katie.

It's just sooo much easier for the child, I don't think my name sounds particularly child-like either .

Out of your other names I love Elizabeth and Harriet.

I like Kitty, I know a 22 year old Kitty, who is in the army just cos you have a girly name doesn't mean she will end up a ballet teacher! Use it!

I have a Katherine (it is the proper spelling!!) and we were planning to nn her Kate but she always looked like Katherine to me! Now (age 9) she has firmly asked to be called Kathy. It is very much her own choice, and I'm delighted.

I'm very much pro a "proper" name on the birth certificate, I think it is nicer for formal occasions, especially with nicknames ending in -y or -ie, which can end up sounding very childish (to my ears!).

I like Elizabeth and Susannah as well. Not so keen on Lois, but I believe it is becoming more popular. We know of a baby Lois born recently and ds (7) said immediatley "oh yeah! Superman's Girlfriend!"

Personally I'm not that keen on Kitty as a full name as I think it's a bit babyish and fluffy, but if you like it and aren't keen on K/Catherine then go for it - if she finds it too fluffy in later life maybe she can call herself Kit. I know two Kits (one short for Keturah and one for Catherine, both of whom were called Kitty when they were little) and for me the name has very positive connotations.

Lois is fabulous....

Not keen on Kitty at all - i just cannot imagine any of my 30 year old friends being called Kitty and being pleased about it...

I was Kitty as a child then changed it to Kate as a teenager. Give her the option.

My vote is definitely Katherine and nn Kitty. Shortened versions as the full name on the bc maybe becoming more popular but IMHO it doesn't make it right. I like proper names and then the child can make choices in their life. If you call her Kitty it would be weird for her aged 13 to announce she would prefer to be known as Katherine. I also think you should stick to the K spelling if you want to use Kitty. I think Katherine and nn Cathy looks odd or to switch it Catherine and nn Kate.
Elizabeth is another lovely classic name with so many options for lovely nn. Lois just sounds very different to your other more traditional choices and immediately makes me think of Lois Lane.

No, I really would give her the option.

Kitty is a very, very pretty name and I love it, but she might not want to have a "pretty" name all her life.

Love Kitty, Harriet and Susannah. Susannah is under used I think given its classic loveliness (mentioned on my thread about names that are surprisingly uncommon).

Kitty is fine. Love all your other names, too.

Catherine with an R surname has the same problem as Harriet. She would really have to be known as Kitty or another variant to make the surname work. I don't think it really matters whether you spell the birth cert name with a C or a K if you're shortening it to a diminutive that begins with K.

Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn for the birth cert, Kitty in real life. Best of both.
She might be a solicitor or an accountant or Prime Minister and want the option of a 'proper' name.
Kitty is lovely, but not a business name, iyswim?