Catherine or Katherine?

[noblegiraffe]

Which spelling do you prefer?

Also, could you call a girl Catherine and still shorten it to Katie or would that be weird?

[IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy]

Much prefer Catherine (biased) but admit there's no good reason for this. My Catherine is usually known by her full name but occasionally Kate or Katy, it's a well known nickname for Catherine and never been a problem

I never understand why people get so excited about Catherines having to match their nickname initial to their full names; no one insists that Ted can only be short for Theodore but not Edward, or that Beth can only be short for Bethany but not Elizabeth. When I was at school we had loads of Beckys too - again not the same initial as full name but people seemed to manage!

[TigerFeet]

Catherine

Awesome name

I always wanted to be Katherine though so I could be Katy like Katy in What Katy Did

[EugenesAxe]

I would spell the K version with an 'a' in the middle - Katharine.

With an 'e' I prefer Catherine. I don't think shortening to Katie would be that weird. Pretty sure Kitty Bennett was Catherine.

[simplesusan]

I like Catherine best.
I think she will get whatever nn her friends choose for her!

[bigbluebump]

But I agree with one point: having the same initial for the proper name and short form are really helpful (when it comes to sewing name tags etc).

So Kathryn, Katharine, Katherine -> Kat, Kate, Katie, Kathy
Or Catherine, Cathryn -> Cat, Cathy, Cate

[bigbluebump]

Wow, I'm surprised there are so many spellings for the same name
Catherine
Katherine
Katharine
Kathryn
Cathryn
Any other name, and we would be accused of 'unique' spellings...or avoiding the name because of the hassle of having to spell it out all the time...

[Yika]

Catherine, shortened to Kate for me.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

As well as being named for paternal family tradition, my mum wanted to call me Catherine after Catherine Earnshaw. I tought that was romantic until I actually read Wuthering Heights!
Im named after an adulterous, mentally tortured mad woman, with a penchant for roaming the hills with an abusive nutter!

[azazello]

Katherine (also biased) from Anne of Green Gables, greek and Anya Seton's Katherine.

ATM she is Kate or Kitty

[CurrerBell]

I am biased but I think Catherine is a more classic name (think Royalty, Henry VIII's wives, Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights...). I do love Anne of Gables but don't agree with her on this point - K is to me a harsh letter...

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I actually really like Caitlyn.

[eBook]

Yes Kathleen is nice.

[ithaka]

I like Kathleen

Lovely Irish name that can be shortened to Katie/Kate.

[JulesJules]

Katharine (as in Hepburn)

It is DD1's middle name. Registering at the Dr, I told the receptionist "Katharine - with a K and two As" and later saw she had written
Kaatherine

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

[Anonymumous]

Catherine makes me think of catheters, if that helps...

[Lifeisontheup]

I'm not stupid -honest, well maybe a bit.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Its scottish.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

:-P

[eBook]

Another one who thinks "Cate" looks odd.

[TheSurgeonsMate]

[TheSurgeonsMate]

Spelling Kate "Cate" is just as stupid, and you don't see me casting any nastursiums about those who choose to do that.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Is too!

[TheSurgeonsMate]

It is not just stupid.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Catherine shorthened to Cate/Catey/Cathy/Cat.
Shortening to a K name is just stupid!
And I should know, Im Catherine the fifth in my family!