is Catherine too boring?

[riskit4abiskit]

Because its just about the only female name we have both said we like!

The full name would be Catherine Ellen name (one syllable last name).

Looking for unusual nn from Catherine too:

Kate / katie
cathy /cath , dont like.
Kitty


any more ideas folks? Thanks.

[EugenesAxe]

I'm with GrandstandingBlueTit. It's my middle name and I prefer the C spelling. Cate has become a recognised shortening thanks to Blanchett.

I agree it's possible people will think it's down to the Royal connection... but then I overheard a conversation between two women the other day that mentioned a child called Evangeline; I instantly thought 'Nanny McPhee' and it would take me much longer to jump to a similar conclusion about Catherine, even though one is unusual and the other less so.

It means 'pure', which, incidentally, is far more related to how I feel about so-called 'boring' names next to these 'Oh but I spelt it with an I not a Y so it's her own special name' type fuckabouts. A person makes themselves special (itself a slightly notion) or not by dint of what they do, not because of their labelling.

[jemimastar]

I also think boring and quite plain.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Lovely name and by far the best spelling. And yes, of course. The only person ever to have been called Catherine is the royal one. No one ever used the name before her, it's such a rare name...

[bouncingbelle]

I love it, I think it's classic and would have loved to be called this o I had the opportunity to change the spelling/nickname.

My mother is cathleen. My cousin is cath. My friend is Kate. A friends daughter is kasha (not sure of the spellng but that's how they pronounce the nn!). What about Caitlin as a nn?

It's a beautiful name - and a name that your daughter would have the chance to make her own.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

My Kate has been the only one in her year right through school - in fact I don't know any other child/teen C/Katherines who are known as Kate at all.

All the parents of Mollies and Sophies and Olivias and Jades and Megans in the 90s, and then all the oh-so-original Ellies and Isabels and Imogens &c &c must have thought they were shunning the ordinary and the boring at the time.... and look what happened there!

[LesserSpottedNeckSnake]

I love it. Prefer the C spelling, too. It's a beautiful, classic name with lots of nickname potential.

[riskit4abiskit]

great range of opinions and some fab nn ideas too! All I need know is for this 37 week baby to decide when they are going to make an appearance - then I can see if she LOOKS like a Katherine!

[macthecatsmum]

It's lovely-she won't grow out of it, it's classic. the diminutives are the only problem. Kitty is great. my DM is Kathleen and hates being called Kathy. when she moved she made a point of telling everyone her name is KATHLEEN. DF was the only person she liked to call her Kath.

[ohmymimi]

Henry Vlll didn't think so, he married three.

[tipp2chicago]

I have a Katharine, so I might be a bit biased…

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

A bit.

Nice - lots of girls names are nice, but a bit "safe"

[JimbosJetSet]

Beautiful classic name. I love Kathleen too, which I'd have gladly used for DD if it wasn't already being used elsewhere in the family

[Mamatomanymunchkins]

Think there will be many Catherine's/Katherine's/Kate's re William / Kate / royal baby popularity ~ wouldn't go for it for this reason x

[winewolfhowls]

I was the original poster, in the end we had an Edward! Now over thirty weeks pregnant again and again pondering about Catherine.

Other girls names that are possibilities
Susan. elspeth (dp doesn't like) clare

Boys names:
Robert. Eric. Stanley.

Cant think of any more so any ideas gratefully received thanks

[Sophronia]

I love Catherine and like Susan and Robert

[Liz09]

I love Catherine.

I prefer the spelling Catherine, but it makes more sense to spell it Katherine if you want to use the nicknames Kate/Katie/Kitty. We have a Katherine in the family and she has never been called Kath/Kathy; she has always been Kate.

[Liz09]

Oh, just saw that this was an old thread but you're back. [grins]

I don't like Susan. It's still too dated to me. I'm not a fan of Clare either, but for no real reason. Elspeth is setting her up for a lifetime of spelling problems and mispronunciations. Elizabeth is more "classic" and known. I'm an Elizabeth and love that I'd never had to spell or pronounce it for anyone. But, I was also the only Elizabeth ever in my grade (and schools, as far as I know) and I still don't know any others my age.

For boys, I LOVE Robert. Eric is quite nice too, but I really love Robert.

[winewolfhowls]

Thanks for the opinions. I like susan because of the discworld character!

[Raines100]

Was coming onto say I love Catherine! Also like Elspeth, but it's no good if your DH doesn't. Susan is a horrible middle-aged name. Clare is very dull. Clara is prettier and more interesting.

Stanley is awful. In a different league than Edward, which is gorgeous. Stanley is grouped with Nigel and Trevor in my book.
Eric is nice, and Robert is a perfectly good, solid boy's name, ruined for me forever by a boy at my primary school who had a perpetually snotty nose

[123beanie]

I absolutely LOVE the name. I like the spelling Katherine as you could use the nn Kat. You should go for it!

[septembersunshine]

I love the name Catherine. It's classic and beautiful. Is it any more boring then the thousands of times I have heard a baby announced as Isabel/lla or Olivia or any other of the super popular names around? No, Catherine is beautiful and I think under-used. Bit like Elizabeth, it has power and history, some weight to it. Not fluffy at all. Love the nn's too. From the soft Cathy to Cat and Kate/Katie. I would use it.

[Unthoughtknown]

Love it (biased)

[Vixxfacee]

What about Clara. I like Stanley from your boys list.

[Rosaaa]

I like both Catherine and Katherine. As others pointed out, it's not boring but classic.
The only nickname I dislike is Kitty.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Very boring.

See also: Sarah, Emma and Elizabeth.

I'd prefer just Katy, tbh.