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Baby names

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

Original poster

Kathryn or Katherine?

83 replies

brockleybelle · 08/05/2010 11:08

Undecided about what spelling to go with. Our baby (due in 2 weeks) will be known as 'Katy' but want the full name on the certificate.
Sorry for the banality of this post but just wanted to hear the general consensus.

OP posts:
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NotANotMan · 20/02/2019 11:07

Katherine
The yn spelling was used as far back as Tudor times so it's hardly modern or American. Katherine Parr was also known as Kateryn.

kaytee87 · 18/02/2019 20:41

Katharine

NannyKasey · 18/02/2019 18:58

I'm a Katherine, (my name isn't usually shortened) I was supposed to be Kathryn, but my grandparents spelled it 'Katherine' on the birth announcement and my parents didn't change it. However you decide to spell it, be prepared for it to be spelled incorrectly even if you decide to use a nn.

LarkDescending · 18/02/2019 17:39

The OP's decision was made nearly 9 years ago.

MikeUniformMike · 18/02/2019 15:05

Katharine. Kathryn seems dated.

3in4years · 18/02/2019 09:12

Kathryn here. The Welsh way I was led to believe.

123Flopsy · 18/02/2019 08:41

Katharine

Although the multiple spellings - Catherine, Catharine, Katherine, Kathryn, Cathryn etc - would put me off the name! She will constantly have to explain which way her name is spelled.

Jaz32 · 18/02/2019 08:09

Another one for Katharine! I like the sound of it more than Katherine!

MercyBodle · 18/02/2019 07:08

Katherine of those 2, but I also was going to suggest Katharine.

SparkiePolastri · 18/02/2019 03:05

What's up @Walker2019? Did someone insult you 9 years ago, and you only just realised?!

Walker2019 · 18/02/2019 01:56

gee.. thanks

StrictlyTory · 13/05/2010 13:17

But I must say it does make me laugh that the way to clearly put someone off a name is to say it's American... even when it's not!

Do you think I can use that to put people of Louis, I really don't like that name!

StrictlyTory · 13/05/2010 13:11

'Kathryn is a common woman's given name. The name is spelled several different ways, including Cathryn, Katherine, and Katharine, with Kathryn as the Welsh spelling, Catherine the French and Caitrìona as the Irish form. Its origin is thought to be Celtic or Greek. Traditionally, the name means "pure one."'

All the Kathryn's I know are very English and yes it was Kathryn Howard

Crazycatlady · 13/05/2010 13:09

The y spelling is Welsh. There is no i in the Welsh alphabet.

I am a Katherine but when I lived in Wales for four years 90% of the time people spelt my name with a y unless I corrected them.

Unless you are Welsh I would go with Katherine.

FlightyButPolite · 13/05/2010 12:54

I'm a Catherine too, but there have always been people who have called me Catie..

swanandduck · 13/05/2010 12:42

Wasn't one of Henry V111's wives Kathryn Howard? I don't see how the spelling could be American.

StrictlyTory · 13/05/2010 12:01

Plus I would say the other spellings were a little dated. The only non-Kathryn I know is over 60.

Think of Kathryn Bigelow, she's pretty cool and not common

StrictlyTory · 13/05/2010 11:53

Kathryn. Nearly all the ones I know are spelt that way!

It's not American at all, it's the Welsh spelling

LaydeeBlahBlah · 12/05/2010 14:11

Would have to be Catherine (that's my name!). As for Kate or Katie, I think that Cate (as in Blanchett) is quite a nice way of shortening it

swanandduck · 12/05/2010 13:23

Kathryn.

Original poster
brockleybelle · 11/05/2010 20:44

I too thought that it's best to go with the 'K' spelling if she's known as Katy.

'Katherine' it will be, though toying again with 'Katharine'. There's something about that spelling that's rather elegant.

OP posts:
Madsometimes · 10/05/2010 10:13

Lots of Catherine's are called Katie.

Persnickety · 09/05/2010 23:15

I thought Catherine was English and Katherine Scottish. I also like Catherine better. But, like OP, I like Katy (or Kate) and that doesn't really work with the C spelling. And I don't really like Cathy. So, I'm going to support OP's choice of Katherine.

weegiemum · 09/05/2010 22:41

Katherine, always!

(my dd1! Now 10. Has always been Katherine to us but has recently asked to be Kathy, which we like. Its a FAB name!)

muminthemiddle · 09/05/2010 22:39

I prefer Catherine and thought this was the original spelling of the name (French).
The Katherine spelling is the English version, in much the same way that Ciaran becomes Kieron, Cian becomes Kian etc.
Kathryn is the American spelling and therefore the least traditional way, more made up if you like.