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Baby names

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Original poster

Katherine or Catherine?

86 replies

LadyStark · 30/09/2015 21:06

We can't decide.

Nickname is going to be Kit/Kitty so leaning towards Katherine as it feels more natural but wondered if there was a consensus on the best spelling?

OP posts:
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MyNameIsRonnieFuckingPickering · 01/10/2015 12:16

Katherine.

Anne Shirley said that Catherine with a C looks smug. I agree.

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 01/10/2015 12:17

It's not that hard to say 'K' when someone asks 'is that with a K or a C?' though! Or even to spell it, to eliminate 'e vs a' confusion. Even if your name is Jane Smith, you'll probably get the odd bod spelling it Jayne.

I can't think of many individuals I know who wouldn't sometimes need to clarify the spelling and/or pronunciation of either their surname or their first name on occasion, now I think about it.

I prefer K, anyway. More authentic and better with Kit/Kitty, or Kate.

sparechange · 01/10/2015 12:22

I'm a Catherine, and it isn't a nightmare name! I get asked if it is with a C or K, but agree with the other poster that said Catherine only has one spelling where as with a K, you would have to spell out th whole thing.
One of my best friends calls me Kitty and has done since we were small.

M4blues · 01/10/2015 12:29

Katherine or Katharine. It looks stylish and classy with a K.
Fwiw, if she told me her name was K then I'd probably assume a rather than e in the middle as I think the a is standard with the K.

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 01/10/2015 12:40

'A' is more 'correct' but I think I've known more 'e's, so I'd probably assume that with a K as well as with a C, if I couldn't ask.

fleurdelacourt · 01/10/2015 14:17

Sparechange - ahem let's just go through all the spellings...

Catherine, Catharine, Cathryn
Katherine, Katharine, Kathryn

And that doesn't even include some of the more unusual ones. There are loads of ways of spelling it, whether you start with a K or a C.

MyNameIsRonnieFuckingPickering · 01/10/2015 14:18

I know a Cathrine

MajesticWhine · 01/10/2015 14:20

I prefer Catherine, but obv Katherine makes better sense if you want those nicknames.

Onedirectionarestillloved · 01/10/2015 23:07

Would be so much easier if there was only one spelling of any name.

I have an uncommon name , maybe more common in other countries than the UK.
However there is only one traditional way of spelling it and at school nearly every Christmas card I got had my name misspelt.

I remember thinking that the kids had known me for years, yet still couldn't spell my name right. Some of the spellings didn't even make sense either!

ClareDeLune · 01/10/2015 23:18

I worked with Catheryn. Never met another one with that particular spelling.

sandgrown · 01/10/2015 23:25

My mum was Catherine but always known as Kitty.

Alisvolatpropiis · 02/10/2015 00:13

I prefer it with a K. Katherine is I think traditionally correct, Catherine the newby (relatively speaking) French spelling. Not entirely sure where Katharine came from, I do slightly prefer it of all the spellings though.

Knew a Katie who was actually Catherine.

Kathryn is awful though.

ExBallerina · 02/10/2015 02:03

I've never thought about this, but having read this thread, I actually like it with a K. But I love the nn Cat/Kat. So, either, I guess.

Anyway, it's a nice name.

penguinsarecool · 02/10/2015 02:05

Katherine always looks posher to me for some reason when i see it written down.

SconeForAStroll · 02/10/2015 07:07

I know what you mean one. People I consider really good friends still spell my name the wrong way. Sad it does mean that I am extremely careful to spell other people's names correctly though.

Go with the K spelling OP, it is what most people consider the default spelling anyway, and at least then she won't get Christmas cards with the wrong name on them.

Original poster
LadyStark · 02/10/2015 07:41

I think I have settled on K, hadn't even considered the e or a in the middle question though, I thought Katherine was the accepted spelling.

From some googling it looks like Katharine comes from the Greek?

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyStark · 02/10/2015 07:46

Oh and I meant to say, my name is Lauren which only really has one spelling and a fairly straightforward one at that and I end up spelling my name out fairly frequently! Think there are very few names that avoid this entirely.

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts though, thank you.

OP posts:
PennyHasNoSurname · 02/10/2015 07:50

Kathryn. Looks nicer and solves the a/e dilemma

TwigletLola · 02/10/2015 09:18

I'm a Katherine and I love it, I've never had a nickname and I'm used to spelling it out. I was Kathryn for about 4 hours after being born but my parents changed it. I think it's a classy name and it's also not one of those where you immediately think "oh they must have been born in X decade" like names like Kylie, Tracey etc.

NationMcKinley · 02/10/2015 09:25

Katherine / Katharine definitely. Lovely name

Xigris · 02/10/2015 09:27

Katherine for me everytime. I knew a Catherine who was a spiteful, nasty narcissist so while I love the sound of the name it has to be Katherine with a K for me!

Xigris · 02/10/2015 09:29

(Sorry! Massive apologies to all lovely Catherines of which there are many Blush - she just wasn't!)

LauraChant · 02/10/2015 09:32

OP You may think Lauren only comes with one spelling but I knew a LaWren pronounced Lauren... Grin

For what it's worth Katharine is my favourite.

mappemonde · 02/10/2015 09:37

KathArine looks the nicest and I also think it's good to have the same initial letter for name/nn. One of my dd1's BFFs is something like Imogen known a Jenny and it's tricky to know whether to buy her a gift with an I or J for example

susurration · 02/10/2015 12:01

Or Kathryn. Ours is known as Kitkat or Kat