Which spelling do your prefer?.. so many to choose from!

[FakaP]

Katherine
Catherine
Katharine
Catharine,
Kathryn
Cathryn....

[Elquota]

Katherine

[commsgirl]

Catherine

[ZolaBuddleia]

Catherine.

[puffylovett]

I'm a Catherine so obviously I'm biased. I Would say though that I find the majority of people spell my name Kathryn which is annoying, as I have to correct them.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Catherine

Although it starts to look like catheter on a thread like this.

Use whatever diminutive you like with whatever starting letter. IMHO using Cate from Catherine is just pedantic compared with Kate.

I like Kitty from Catherine. Citty would just be weird.

[noblegiraffe]

Katherine if you want the nickname Katie otherwise initials are different. And Catie is just odd.

There was a Cathryn on the Great British Bake Off. It looked like it was spelled wrong.

[HenriettaPye]

I like Kathryn with Katy for short

[TheSurgeonsMate]

Catherine is the best spelling.

You can still shorten to Kate or Katie if that's your preference.

[MyBoysAreFab]

My mum's name is Catherine. I have never really thought about it before but when I see it in this post, I think it is a lovely name. SIL is Kathryn.

[Myliferocks]

Catherine.

DC5 has a different spelling of a popular name and it can be a nightmare.
We have never been able to buy anything preprinted with names on as it is always the wrong spelling for him. Iyswim
It probably doesn't help that his 4 siblings all have traditional names with the traditional spellings so can always find items with their names on.

[Artesia]

Cloud Kitten, you weren't by any chance at school in North Yorks were you?! The Cathryn/Ruth, both slightly square, combo was at our school too!

[mrsyattering]

Katharine, coz that's my name nn Katie

[Elquota]

Katie is much nicer than Cath/Cathy IMO. So I'd use Katherine, nn Katie. I don't think Cate/Caty look right somehow.

[ChippingInWiredOnCoffee]

I wouldn't use it given the Middleton!

But, if I did, then it would depend on whether I wanted a Cath-er-in or a Kath-ryn :)

[ItCameFromOuterSpace]

Catherine

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

I would spell it Catherine as this is how Saint Catherine (i.e. the original Catherine) spelled it and to me it looks slightly more classy.

However this is not actually the most popular spelling. The positions of the various spellings of Catherine on the England and Wales baby name charts are as follows:

Katherine - #169
Catherine - #233
Kathryn - #615
Katharine - #1665
Cathryn - #3549
Catharine - not on chart

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

P.S. I second everybody who has said you can still use Katie/Katy/Kitty etc. as nicknames with Catherine (love Kitty).

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Katharine but she will spend her life spelling it to people.

[SleepyCatOnTheMat]

If the OP wants to use a K spelling she would be better off going with Katherine, MrsTerryPratchett - much less chance of it being mispelt.

[LaChaiseVerte]

The route of the name is widely stated as "Katharos" the greek for pure, which makes Katharine the most "original" spelling I think Sleepy.

The friends I have with this name are called Catherine, and one is known as Kate. I do know one Catharine, which I think is v unusual, I also know a Catherine nn Catie, which I think is a bit specific and Katie would do. I just like how Katharine looks best. Really don't like the ys.

[sundanceclaire]

Katherine, I like that it can be shortened to Kate, Katie.

[gutzgutz]

what about katerin? kat a rin. old English as far as i know. nn Kate. just to add something else to the mix!

[ShadowStorm]

Katherine

[MortifiedAdams]

Kathryn

[barbiebostock]

Catherine :) I much prefer C names to those begining with a K (and i'm a Karen, would rather have been a Caron though) I think Catherine looks gentler and more traditional (not sure if it is or not! the same with other C/K names) and the K versions just look like their trying to be different, but without actually achieving it.