Changing spelling

[whotheduckisalice]

I called my daughter Catherine and she is also known as Cate. I had originally wanted Kate but for various reasons (mainly thinking people would think I was stupid for having a K Kate with a C Catherine) went with Cate on the day she was born. I later realised, thanks to Kate Middleton, that she could have legitimately had the K spelling. I have been worrying, belatedly I know, that I have given her a name she will have to forever spell. In addition I like traditional names and feel a bit funny, still, about the less usual spelling. It is not that I don't like it it just doesn't feel right somehow, even after four years. She is off to school in Sept and I am wondering if I could change it to the K spelling. I am worried this will confuse her or that she will reject this though as although it would sound the same and she can only write and read a very little, she recognises the letter C as 'her' letter. On the other hand she might thank me when she is older? Any thoughts?

I think Cate is cute and original. However, if she wants to change it in school I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. It's just a nickname after all!

I prefer the Kate spelling personally. Why don't you see if she'll take to it and adjust before September? If changing it over doesn't seem to be working just stick with Cate and nothing is lost.

Well cate blanchett is quite famous. It's less usual but not completely off the wall. Plus I agree with you, it's logical!
I am a kate, just kate :)

I'd stick with Cate. She can change it if she likes, when she's older.

DD uses a rarer spelling of her NN deliberately to be the only one in the school. It took me a while to get used to, because it's not how I spelt it.

When she went to senior school that's what she put in the preferred name box and that's how everyone writes it.

she recognises the letter C as 'her' letter

I think that's very sweet and reason enough not to change it. I distinctly remember feeling an attachment to my initial when I was learning to write.

Cate is a legitimate name and it's nice that it's a bit different.

I personally don't think it's important enough to change and she will get confused about her 'c' letter.

I knew a Katie who was actually Catherine.

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate hearing your views. alis I actually call her Katie a lot which was unintentional but she seems to suit it. I would never have chosen to spell that with a C and it's another reason I am wondering about a switch. I don't want to give her an identity crisis tho!

I prefer the look of Cate. And I think Catie is fine too. I think it sounds like she has bonded with the spelling already, so I wouldn't worry about changing it.

I think you should change it before she starts school if it's going to bother you. At 4 she should be old enough to understand that that C and K can make the same sound and you can show her that her shortened name can also be spelt with a K.

I.e. explain that "K" can be her letter too - make it exciting for her. Good luck!

If her full name is Catherine and she is known as Cate or Catie, that is lovely. Much easier for labelling of things if her initial is always C.

It didn't do Cate Blanchett any harm :-) However I think Catie looks very odd.

If it helps I went to school with a Catherine who decided at fourteen she preferred the spelling Kathryn. I thought it was a temporary thing but reunited with her recently via Facebook and she still uses the Kathryn spelling. That's quite a long winded way of saying if the girl I knew could change it at fourteen, I'm sure you wouldn't have any problems changing it at four.!

For what it's worth I prefer the Cate spelling and also the name Cate/Kate over Katie which is ten a penny.

Thanks very much for your replies which have really helped. My DH doesn't think it matters which is helpful! So nice to get views from you.

I have decided I can't get on board with the C spelling for Katie, just because I like traditional names so doesn't feel right (tho it does look pretty). I don't have a problem with Cate though. So I think I am going to leave that for now at least but introduce the spelling Katy. This doesn't feel too much of a diversion from Caty which it has been so far. Also Katie feels more like another name entirely for some reason.

I tried this on her yesterday using the helpful suggestion of making it feel like a special game to have two letters. We made her a Katy Cate necklace. I pointed out other little girls who have two letters eg Elizabeth/Beth and shamefully and slightly untruthfully told her about a princess who is Catherine but Katy with a K!!!

I will see where she is in September...

Thanks again. It is nice to have a spelling for Katy in my head that I feel happy about.

Yes, agree with the poster that says Cate is fine but Catie doesn't look right. It has to be Katy or Katie. But Cate is logical. Before Kate Middleton came along, I would have assumed that Kate was a short form for Kathleen or Katherine. Cate short for Catherine is what I would have done. Not that that matters!

Thanks. I think it is only since realising I always call her Katy (which I never intended to) that this has mattered to me. She has been widely known as Cate since birth. It is nice to know most of you like Cate as I have always wondered if I did the right thing.

Also maybe the spelling for Katy only matters to me since I and my 12 year old nice are only ones who call her it! (DH calls her Catherine)

Anyway, thanks again. Has helped to process my thoughts!