Help convince me this name is nice please!

[thistlemuncher]

I just can't get excited about the name that "we" have chosen for our baby. Catherine (pronounced Catrine as DH is French native language).

It's the only name that DH suggested that was acceptable, but I'm not a great fan. Which is stupid as it fits my criteria of being Greek roots and multi-lingual. Except that all of my family will pronounce it wrong... I think my main dislike is that I know so many, it's the most common name in my year group so I went to school/uni with loads and find it, well, boring. DH always refers to bump by name now, so it's a bit late to change it. He's also adamant that we have to have the French spelling and pronunciation.

I'm trying to come up with nicknames that I can use, but I know so many people called Kate, Katie, Kat, Cat, Kitty that I can't imagine using any of them for a baby.

Please tell me a nice thing about this name and any other suggestions for nicknames?

(I'm also well aware people are going to say we've given the name because I'm British and constantly ask if it's because of the Royal family)

If the baby is still a bump, it's hardly too late to change it! People change their minds even when the baby is a few months old - there are threads on here about it. So don't think this is an unchangeable decision. Is your DH being particularly intractable about this?

Personally, I love Catherine and think it is a beautiful, classic name, very versatile, lots of possible nicknames. But none of that matters if you don't like it.

Tell us about your name requirements. You've said a bit above but spell it out. What names did you put on your own shortlist and what were your DH's?

Just re-read and it does sound as if your DH is being a bit stubborn. I don't think either of you should get to be 'adamant' about the naming process - it should be something you agree on, however much negotiation that involves...

It's a great name. You'll be forever explaining the How to say it though.

What is the french nickname for it? Maybe this would be good

Kitty for a baby is uber cute.

It's not going to be common, isn't completely off the wall either and works for everything from tatooed bikers (Kaz or Cat) to models "miss Cathrine X is modelling Dior today" to lawyers and investment bankers!).

And it's multi lingual- really I'm with your DH, it's the name you need!

(NN wise if you are saying it "catrine" then it opens up the "trine/trina/trinny" type of NN too)

I think YOU need to convince yourself that you like it (or not) and if not, it is NOT to late to change it. In my opinion you need to find a name that you both love.

Catherine is fine, but I wouldn't choose it personally. Nothing wrong with it though, a perfectly normal name. The spelling and pronunctiation will be an issue though so you need to be happy with those.

I love Catherine and Kate, they were high up our short list for girls names!

I love Catherine and Kate, they were high up our short list for girls names!

I like it but it doesn't wow me, but it's not my baby! Nice nns too and lots of them. I think it's going a bit far for your DH to insist English people pronounce it the French way..

How about Charlotte - used in France and there is less confusion with pronounciation between the 2 languages other than accent obviously..IMO similar kind of name to Catherine too...

I'm a bit biased though as it's my favourite girls name nn. Lottie!

It's gorgeous and is both classy and classical. However your dh needs to understand that it will be forever pronounced the English way over here, or else spelt wrongly if written down after being heard pronounced the French way. He's being willfully stupid if he thinks otherwise.

I have a Kathryn and she is now aged 14 shortened to Kat at home but still Kathryn to her friends. Also know a Catherine who is known as kitty and that's lovely and pretty.

You will know more when baby appears as it may just not suit her at all when you see her. We have at least 4 boys names for our bump but won't decide until he is here. I am not convinced on any of them!

We're in the same boat OP, DH is set on Catherine if ours is a girl and it's a lovely name but I don't 'love' it. We've had so many issues choosing a name that I think I may go with it, as I'm getting my way with a middle name. The good thing about the name is that there are so many short versions to choose from (think I'll go for Kitty) that you should be able to find something you like. It is also a name which is known in many countries (although maybe your DH's insistence on the French pronunciation is a little too far if not all the family is French?) and can be adapted by your DD in the future to suit her.

Catherine is lovely. Really lovely. Lots of nice nicknames. Classy. Great.

However (and I've struck through this because I know it's not what you want to hear) why do you get so little say in what your child is called? The child you've carried for nine months and will love and care for for the rest of her life? Um, I'd be adamant it was a name I liked

I agreed to a name that I thought was okay, 6 years on I still haven't warmed it so I wouldn't go with it if you're not sure.

Catherine is swoonworthy imo and the nickname possibilities are vast: Kitty, Trina, Kate, Cat, etc. The French prn is gorgeous too.

I especially like that it's well-known across all European languages, and in all ex-European colonies, so that's an awful lot of countries where she'll have no troubles introducing herself. (My name is not like that.. nor is my DH's... sometimes makes travelling/meeting new people annoying).

Also the name is classic enough that I, for one, don't associate it immediately with the new Duchess.

I think it's soooo lovely and your girl would be lucky to be so beautifully named! JMO of course, but take it for what it's worth.

agree with ATruth

Catherine however is a lovely name, but if you don't love it then it is not the one for your baby.

I agree with ATruth, too (as I said at the start...) Not sure why your DH gets Ultimate Deciding Powers, over both choice and pronunciation. I think it's very likely anyway that if you do call the baby Catherine, that's what she'll be (with English pronunciation) known as in Britain and Catrine pron. will be used by her French family members and when in France.

How about Katya.....it has a little more spunk to it!! Its also a bit more unusual!

It's not that I've had no say, it's just that I vetoed all the other names he came up with... The problem is, I have no real objection to it, it's an acceptable name, but I just can't feel excited about it. DS's name is spelled the English way (I only realised this when we were talking about a name for this one ) so part of me thinks that it should be written the French way. But, DS's name barely changes in pronunciation between the languages where as Catrine vs Catherine is quite different to me. I suggested Catrin as a spelling, but DH doesn't like it as it's not common over here (Switzerland) and he says she'd be forever having to spell it out.

I suggested Charlotte as it's one of my favourite names and love the nn Lottie, but DH vetoed it. We just have a totally different idea on names. A boy would be so much easier!

I hadn't thought of Katya though, shall have to think on it. I'm coming to the conclusion I'll never call her by her proper name...

What about Caroline? That is translates well in Europe doesn't it?

I think a name that is pronounced completely differently in French and English is a bad idea, given your requirements.

Personally I think the pronunciation Catrine is ugly sounding in English.

The baby's not named until it's here. Keep looking.

And don't be browbeaten into a name you don't like.

What about Helen? There are loads of versions; Helene, Helena, Elena, Eleni, Elaine etc. I'm not crazy about Catherine either, although I really like Kit or Kitty. Katia even.

It's an 'acceptable' name? Do you want to call your darling daughter something you only find 'acceptable'???

'I'll never call her by her proper name' - and you are happy with that for your daughter ???

Blimey.

If you don't love it - don't do it or you will more than likely end up being one of the posters who are here a year in upset that the name still isn't right for them and can they change it!?

There are millions of names - you need to keep looking & DH needs to realise that you don't live in France, if he wants a french name (& you are happy with that) it would be much easier on your daughter if it wasn't commonly pronounced differently where she will be growing up!! There is just no point, whatsoever, in calling her Catherine and expecting all and sundry to call her Catrine - it wont happen!!

Gabrielle
Cordelia
Colette
Delphine
Seraphine
Laure
Lysette
Aurelie

Catrine also rhymes with latrine.

Gabrielle
Cordelia
Colette
Delphine
Seraphine
Laure
Lysette
Aurelie

I like a lot on Louplet's list. Good work!