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Baby names

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

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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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DarkRoomDarren · 05/04/2018 08:58

I had a few girls at school named just Katie / Katy and a friend of mine has just named her baby this. I think it’s lovely.

KennDodd · 05/04/2018 08:58

Oh, and I don't think it's 'warped logic' to want to give your child options.

usernamealreadytaken · 05/04/2018 09:28

My name is a diminutive of a longer "proper" name, and I've spent nearly my whole life being asked what my full name is, or what my name is short for

turnipfarmers · 05/04/2018 09:29

Katy is most certainly a full name, and (if I say so myself) a jolly fine one too

mischiefmanaged01 · 05/04/2018 09:51

I have the shortened version as my given name and wouldn’t have it any other way! I can’t imagine being a Katherine and it’s is only very rarely that someone will check that I’m not actually a Katherine. I think go with it.

Just spoken to my mum actually and she did say a few people insisted the more forms version should be used on my birth certificate but she resisted, and is glad she did because why name a baby to shorten it!

RedDwarves · 05/04/2018 09:54

I went to school with a Katy and a Katie. Neither name was short for anything. It has done them no harm, as far as I'm aware.

My cousin is formally a Katherine but has been Kate since the day she was born. She finds her full name irritating, as she's never called it, and because it has so many different spellings that it's rare someone gets it right the first time.

Kate123cl · 05/04/2018 10:32

@LondonZookeeper My name is Katy and have never been called Catherine! I get asked if it's my actual birth name though. No one has ever shortened my name to Kate apart from myself haha. I love that mine is spelt Katy and not Katie as it's less common! Although can be annoying when trying to find souvenirs with your name on! Never ever found any apart from a ruler and a dolphin badge once haha

longestlurkerever · 05/04/2018 12:53

Kendodd I do understand what you're saying. I gave dd2 a long version for that reason. The difference is though that I like both versions and hope she will too. But many of my family have been saddled with long names that really no one is likely to want to use irl and they've been a source of embarrassment rather than a help. And dd1 and I both have names that can't easily be shortened so we have no choice but no one ever seems to say that's a bad idea. Dd1's name seems to be a MN favourite, in fact

cariadlet · 05/04/2018 13:06

I think that Kate, Katy and Katie are all pretty and all "proper" names.

I'm always known by the short version of my name. Only my parents use the version that's on my birth certificate. I hate filling in forms because I'm never sure when I should use the official version (which doesn't really feel like me) and when It's ok to use the name that I'm known by.

It's one of the reasons that I chose my dd's name. I think it's a pretty name but it's also one that can't be shortened.

mamansnet · 05/04/2018 13:44

Another one with the shortened version. Never been a bother for me, although it's a nice talking point when people assume I'm a Catherine and I tell them I'm not.

Personally I find Katie a bit girly-girl, whereas Kate is cool and punchy. But then so am I

daisypond · 05/04/2018 19:55

My name is a diminutive of a longer, proper name, and I don't like it. I would like the gravitas of the longer version and I wish my parents had given me that. I could have shortened it if I wanted. I feel I can't lengthen it now, though I'd like to.

MammieBear · 05/04/2018 20:12

I think giving her more options is the way to go how about Katherina? It can be Katie...

bridgetreilly · 05/04/2018 20:54

Definitely Katy.

chezmk1988 · 05/04/2018 22:31

I can see it being a stand alone name. I like the Katie spelling better.

Original poster

LondonZookeeper · 05/04/2018 22:33

No definitely no Katherina/Catarina
/Katrina
I like Katherine but I know a one who is beyond annoying.
Katy I think it will be, plenty of posters have convinnced me it is an established name in its own right, which is what I originally thought, and she will have the option of Kate if she wishes.
Thanks all who posted

OP posts:

Ginnotginger · 05/04/2018 23:06

In my family we have a Kathryn, known as Katy when small and Kate from early teens onwards, and a Katie who at 18 is still called Katie and has never shortened it to Kate. I went to school with a Katie who thought Katie was babyish by age 10 and wanted to be known as Kate but teachers insisted on using her full name (she now uses her middle name of Rose).

LinoleumBlownapart · 06/04/2018 01:23

I know a Katy, she's just Katy and I've always liked the name. It's certainly a name in its own right. "What Katy did" was named from Katydids which is a nickname for crickets in the USA, because they make the noise that sounds like they are saying "Katy did, Katy did, Katy did" so the name Katy is even older than the book. There's a useless fact for you.
I wouldn't bother with Katherine if you want Katy, because you might get people saying Kath or Kathy. Katy is lovely.

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