Katherine or Catherine?

[LadyStark]

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?

For many names, mumsnetters always warn agains different spellings as in "she'll have to spell her name forever" and I find this name is one of those!

Katharine, Kathryn, Katherine, Catherine, Catharine, Cathryn.... .

I would choose a name with a single spelling!

I'd want against it if there was one version that was manifestly the usual one - like spelling it Alfee or Emmaleigh or Aleckzandrer. But where there is variation anyway, i don't think it's so bad.

I have a straight forward surname.
There is only one way to spell it, if is an actual thing ( eg bell or baker).

I have had people ask me to spell it.

So I always say as in (bell or baker).
There's usually silence followed by the person realising how daft they sound.

I wonder if people are just so used to a range of spellings these days they just ask as standard, irrespective of whether it's really necessary!

Catherine

My dd's middle name is Katherine, named after a Katherine.

I knew someone who was Cathryn and I've also known Catherines. (Usually Cathy or Cath)
I don't know a Katharine.

I would go with Kathryn if you're going with Kitty for a nn.

Catherine with a C. I don't give a toss about the Greeks. Catherine looks better with a C.

Feels much more regal if you like that thing, when its got a C.

Like these three babes:

Hi think the only true spelling of Catherine with a c is Catherine.
Cathryn is not how it was traditionally spelt.

I don't like the Kathryn spelling as that is not how the name was traditionally spelt so if you don't go for Catherine then choose Katharine.

I don't know that many catherine/Cathryn/Katherine/Katharine's anyway .

scatterthenuns it depends what your source is as to whether a K or C applies to the 3 wives of Henry VIII - although there are certainly strong arguments that Katherine of Aragon is with a K.

One source of many just from a quick browse on the internet:
www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/HamptonCourtPalaceSightsandstoriesYounghenryFAQsaspx#9

OP I genuinely don't think it matters which you choose, the nickname can go with either - Kate Middleton manages it it despite being a Catherine rather than a Katherine. That said, by the time your daughter is at school, whether she wants her nickname to be Kit or Kitty is a different matter - my sister is a Katherine and has been of manner of nicknames over the years. I did once know a Kitty (not a nickname) so if you like the name Kitty, you could just choose it in its own right.