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Baby names

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Original poster

Katy/Katie not Catherine

67 replies

LondonZookeeper · 04/04/2018 18:36

Just wondering about opinions on the name Katie/Katy but without using the full name Catherine/Katherine. I don’t want to use the full name as whilst I really love Katie/Katy, Catherine is a nice enough name, but it reminds me of someone I don’t like for a number of reasons.

Katie/Katy is a ‘proper name’ in my opinion dating back to 1800s, and also has the link with children’s classic books what Katy did.
What do others think?

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madamedepoppadom · 04/04/2018 18:41

I had a relative born in 1900 whose official name was Katie, so I'd say it has a reasonably long track record as an independent name. However, if you did decide to use a longer name that can be shortened to Katie to give your baby more choice when she's older, other possibilities would be Katrine/Katrina, Caitlin or Katya. I did meet a girl called Katerina once, who was given that name specifically so she could be Katie, but I wouldn't recommend that as people would probably mistake it for Katrina all the time.

WhateverTakesYaFancy · 04/04/2018 18:41

I know someone who is 'just' Katie.

Lots of people will come along saying she should have a 'proper' name in case she becomes a Judge Grin. I say, use the name you like.

Musicaltheatremum · 04/04/2018 18:41

Love them. My daughter is Catherine and was until she was 12 then there were 4 in her year so she became Cathy. Her best friend is Katie always called this but is really Katherine. My drinking buddy is Katy. I love all the versions.

NapQueen · 04/04/2018 18:42

Katie/Katy are absoloutley names in their own right. Go for it.

Theimpossiblegirl · 04/04/2018 18:43

It's fine as a name on its own, but could also be short for Catriona, Katerina, Catalina, Caitlin, Cadence, Kathryn/Catherine etc.

Hoppinggreen · 04/04/2018 18:45

I “know” a Katy
Many years ago as a child she did get called Katherine a lot even though it is just Katy.
Now a days people seem to get it more but they still tend to spell it ie, although now she does get asked sometimes if it’s with a Y or ie whereas 10 or more years ago it was assumed to be ie.
At school there was one teacher who insisted on Katherine and even put it on School reports until her Mum got cross about it at parents evening

Original poster
LondonZookeeper · 04/04/2018 18:50

It is on my possible list. But I don’t want to call baby anything else to shorten it.
The children’s classic book was published first in the 1800s so it’s not a name without grounding.

OP posts:
Whatififall · 04/04/2018 18:51

I know a Katy and 2 Katie’s. It’s a lovely name in its own right.

I also know a Kate, who I honestly thought was just Kate until her wedding and in her vows she was revealed to be Catherine. I’d known her since we were 18 and genuinely never knew. After the ceremony pretty much everyone other than her parents were saying “never knew you were a Catherine!” Obviously I know Kate is one of the derivatives of Catherine but usually it comes up in conversation if that’s the case, she had never mentioned it.

Original poster
LondonZookeeper · 04/04/2018 19:24

Yes I think it is a beautiful name and whilst I know a few my generation age (25-35) I don’t hear of any baby Katy’s.
So she won’t be the fifth Katy in her year (hopefully) if we use it!

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/04/2018 20:05

Katie is fine as a name in its own right.
Very pretty as well

RosieCotton · 04/04/2018 20:06

I have a friend calked Kathleen. Shes always gone by kate x

KennDodd · 04/04/2018 20:09

I have the shortened name as my given name. I really wish my parents had given me the long version. I could always have shortened it if I wanted.

KennDodd · 04/04/2018 20:09

I'm late 40s btw.

Jasharps · 04/04/2018 20:10

My lovely sister is just Katie - i much prefer it Catherine. DD3 middle name is Katie too after her auntie

KennDodd · 04/04/2018 20:10

Sorry, in my late 40s, not born in the late 40s!

17caterpillars1mouse · 04/04/2018 20:11

I know a little Katie and think it's fine. It seems a name in its own right to me

longestlurkerever · 04/04/2018 20:14

I don't think you need a long name as long as the short name isn't overly cutesy and childish. The judge thing is silly - Lord Bingham of Cornhill is referred to as Tom Bingham in his obituary. I happen to love Catherine and Katie, so would use the long form, but certainly wouldn't if I didn't.

longestlurkerever · 04/04/2018 20:15

I do know a couple of baby Katies though - sorry OP!

AnnieLobeseder · 04/04/2018 20:18

One of my favourite children in the world is Kate, without being Katherine. Perhaps Kate would be an alternative to Katie, as it might be more suited as a high court judge or prime ministerial name?

A girl in my class at school was Judy, rather than Judith. We had a teacher who insisted on calling us all by our full names, so he kept trying to call her Judith and wouldn't be told that her full name really was Judy. Odd fellow!

longestlurkerever · 04/04/2018 20:21

We had a teacher who insisted on calling us all by our full names This is precisely why I think insisting you need to be Algernon on your birth certificate is batshit, if it's a name you'd never willingly be called.

Jasharps · 04/04/2018 20:23

Oops. I mean i prefer Katie to Katherine

SazCat · 04/04/2018 20:24

I love it, in fact if I have another baby girl then Katy is definitely going to be on the shortlist!

Haircutdilemma · 04/04/2018 20:27

I have a Katie, not short for Catherine. Lovely name.

AnyaMoondial · 04/04/2018 20:34

Yes it's fine. For some reason I always think Katy with a y is a full name whereas I think Katie with ie seems like a diminutive, that might just be me though Smile.

Also really love "just" Kate too.

Cowsopinion · 04/04/2018 20:37

I love it but I night be bias Wink