Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Katherine or Catherine

62 replies

Wishfulmakeupping · 05/02/2014 09:19

Which spelling do you prefer? I like both and Kitty as a nn.
Please note Im not expecting just very broody Grin.
Also if you think either would go better with Georgia my dd's name
Thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BlueStarsAtNight · 05/02/2014 09:53

Definitely Katherine, I'm not sure why but it looks so much prettier to me!

LizLemongrass · 05/02/2014 09:56

Catherine
but Kathleen!
Clara not Klara (which is polish i know but looks awful)
karen but not Caryn (Danish not Welsh?)

SOmetimes you need a k and sometimes you need a C!

Lottiedoubtie · 05/02/2014 09:59

Katherine, ESP. With a 'k' nickname.

Saharap2 · 05/02/2014 10:03

Catherine

GlitzAndGiggles · 05/02/2014 10:06

Katherine looks nice to me. I know of a Kathryn too

WhichNameShouldIUseForThis · 05/02/2014 10:30

If you're going to try to have Kitty as a nickname then Katherine, definitely. Please don't lumber her with a different initial depending on whether she's using her given name or nickname, it's a pain in the arse. Trust me, I've had this my whole life. It makes all sorts of things difficult - think of choosing an email address, for instance. Having the same initial makes everything miles easier.

sweetheart · 05/02/2014 10:37

I prefer Catherine - I went to school with a total bitch who was Katherine and it made me loath the fact that Catherine is my middle name.

IForgotMyPencil · 05/02/2014 10:38

I'm a Katherine - and always end up with K as a nickname, which I obviously wouldn't have had had I been a Catherine. I think Catherines tend to end up as Cathys Not sure if Kitty is a natural nickname.though. I've never had anyone try to call me it.anyway. You may find it hard to get that one going. :-)

DipDabDabDip · 05/02/2014 10:40

Katherine. With a c it seems frumpy somehow.

HemlockStarglimmer · 05/02/2014 10:42

Neither - Katharine is the way to go.

Could be I am biased though Grin

Arohaitis · 05/02/2014 10:46

I gather it should be Katharine, although I prefer the letter C to K!!!

I also think Catherines tend to be called Cath or Cathy and K nicknames are more common with Katharine

Don't think either go with Georgia particularly although maybe k more so!

FlipFantasia · 05/02/2014 10:50

Catherine!

And no problem with nn kitty (yes, I speak from experience - have never been Cath or Cathy or Kate).

MarysDressSways · 05/02/2014 11:01

My friend is a Catherine and goes by Kate, there are no rules with nicknames!

I think I prefer Katherine to look at!

Mintymoomoo · 05/02/2014 11:03

Catherine - my name and I much prefer the C spelling, the few I knew with K were just horrible, my nn is Kate and family always call me this

WhichNameShouldIUseForThis · 05/02/2014 11:35

Do your friends call you Kate as well though, or just your family?

IMO it's the nickname being very well used by friends, colleagues etc. that causes the problems - the more public the nickname is and the less you use your given name in casual social contact, the more you end up needing to choose the initial for the nickname as the one to use, and then the less people recognise the given name as also you, so the more you use the nickname - it's a bit of a vicious circle!

I actually like my full given name but hardly ever get to use it because the different initial makes me look like a different person in anything written down and just confuses people.

I think if it had the same initial I'd have more flexibility to sometimes put my full name, because the nickname would really obviously look like a shorter version of the full name rather than a different name altogether.

MissWimpyDimple · 05/02/2014 11:36

Definitely Katherine. Catherine seems wet to me!

bunnynose · 05/02/2014 12:22

Definitely Catherine. It look so much softer and prettier!

You can still have K nicknames, they are well known will the C spelling. I have a Catherine, she is Katie at the moment, but I also like Kate and much prefer Cathy with a C if she wants to use that when she is older.

Lots of other names have different initials to the full name like Bob, Bill, Becky, Lexi, Bella, Liz etc. so it's not a problem.

Wishfulmakeupping · 05/02/2014 12:56

If it was to be the name then kitty would be announced together i think, my cousins dd was announced as Elizabeth 'Betty' Surname so along those lines?

OP posts:
Wishfulmakeupping · 05/02/2014 12:57

Arohaitis any name ideas to go with Georgia very welcome :)

OP posts:
enriquetheringbearinglizard · 05/02/2014 13:04

I like the name, but I don't have a spelling preference, whatever makes for the better initials I suppose.

I don't see a problem with choosing either and announcing that she will always be known as Kitty. Infact you could just tell everyone her name's Kitty and then if anyone questions it say she's registered as the more formal K or C name, but she's to be known as Kitty.

I guess when she's older either she or her friends will choose what she's known as anyway. One of mine was known by all her friends as Kiki for ages, just because one friend couldn't say her real name Grin it just evolved that way.

Foxsticks · 05/02/2014 13:11

I know a Katherine who is known as Kitsy which I think is really nice. I like thr Kathryn spelling too, my MIL is Kathryn and kmown as Kathy.

Foxsticks · 05/02/2014 13:12

the and known

newyearhere · 05/02/2014 13:16

If you're using Kitty as Nickname I'd use Katherine as full name, to keep the same initial.

ShadowFall · 05/02/2014 13:19

I prefer it spelt with a K.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 05/02/2014 13:22

Catherine shortened to Cate.

Swipe left for the next trending thread