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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.

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cloelia · 08/05/2010 11:28

My sister is a Katharine. For years she explained "with a K and an A" to the extent she got the permanent nickname KaKa pronounced KayKay. Only in her forties has she managed to get rid of it! But I still like the name however it is spelled.(spelt?)

Original poster
brockleybelle · 08/05/2010 11:27

I really don't want an American/'common' spelling so thank you for pointing that out! 'Katherine' it will be then, classic. I'm also a great admirer of Katherine Parr, Henry the Eighth's last wife. A woman of great character.

I was toying with 'Katharine', particularly because of Hepburn being such an elegant namesake, but it's such an uncommon spelling I decided against it.

Thanks for all the feedback. What would I do without mumsnet? .

OP posts:
Acanthus · 08/05/2010 11:25

Katharine. Or Catherine. Definitely not Kathryn.

bellissima · 08/05/2010 11:16

Katherine. Hate Kathryn, Jacklyn, Carolyn etc American style spellings - common.

NoahAndTheWhale · 08/05/2010 11:13

Was going to mention Katharine as well

NoahAndTheWhale · 08/05/2010 11:13

I'm a Katherine so that way feels "right" to me

However you spell it, it is a great name Your DD will find that people will spell it in ways that you don't, with some people deciding it is with a C and others using whichever spelling they are most familiar with. You will probably find some other spellings like Kathrine which I used to get from friends at school.

Both my SILs are called Catherine and we all share the same surname so if I get post addressed with the C spelling I always feel it is one of them

muggglewump · 08/05/2010 11:12

Katherine, but just to be awkward I like Katharine (as in Hepburn) best. I knew a fabulous one at Uni.

fortyplus · 08/05/2010 11:11

Katherine for me...

Kathryn sounds dated and she'll have to spell it 3 times every time she gives her full name