Catherine - Cate.

[Mumblyboo]

DH has suggested Catherine.... I do like the name, IRS traditional and sounds strong yet feminine but in the sea of beautiful frilly names out there I worry its a bit dull.... Also I can only imagine it with Cate as a shortening as Kate seems like entirely different name. What advice/opinions can you give me ladies?

I know what you mean about Kate seeming like a different name but because it's a well-established nickname for Catherine I think it's ok. You could always spell it Katherine or Katharine (one of these, though I forget which, is actually the most common spelling). I also really like Kitty as a nickname for Catherine/Katherine/Katrina/Caitlin.

When it comes to labelling school clothes etc. I think it helps if the nickname and full name have the same initials. I would therefore use
Katharine/Kathryn/Katherine - Kate
Catherine/Cathryn/Catharine - Cate

Kit/Kitty/Kathy/Kate/Cate/Kat/Cat/Kay/Katie/Katy

I love Catherine with a C (Dd's middle name), but don't like Cate, though Kate is lovely.

I don't thinking matching initials matter - labels can say Catherine Surname or Kate Surname - I'm sure Amelia/Milly & Elizabeth/Beth manage.

Catherine and Cate are both lovely!
I think the C somehow makes it more feminine, softer... I like it.

I like it. I say go for it.

If you prefer Kate with a K why not just go for Katherine with a K? Although i do think that Kate is fine in its own right if you prefer it to Katherine

Really dislike Katherine with a K. I don't mind Kate, I just think it looks wrong as a shortening for Catherine.... But I love Kitty which I think is adorable for tiny tots whereas Catherine is a name to grow into.....

Good to see I make complete sense and am not at all contrary today.....

What about Cat as the shortening? especially if you like Kitty too......
Kitty as a baby
Cat as a teenager and casually as she grows up
Catherine as a professional woman

Kitty, catty, cat, cate, Kate, Katie, cathy - Catherine is lovely.

I have a Catherine who is shortened to Cate or Catey. Its old and Scottish.
I mentioned it on here and got aaccused of making it up, but if you type Catey into fB there a hundreds. I love it. Im also a Catherine and would HATE to be called Kate.

Surely what you are looking for is Cath or Cathy?

Thing is, it's rarely the parent who gets to decide either the nickname, or its spelling.

I prefer the Cathering spelling. Most Catherines (and other spellings thereof) end up these days as Cat anyway, rarely as Kate or Kitty and only those over 30 are Cathy.

CatherinE obviously.

Cathy? You never seem to hear that nowadays. When I was young, Catherines (any spelling) were usually called Cathy or Kathy. Kate was very unfashionable as a shortening.