Katherine

[StrawberryCat]

We think we might have chosen Kate as our top fave name, but would probably want Katherine on the BC (I know we dont necessarily need to but at the moment DH is keen to). But what do you think of Katherine and how would you spell it?
Katherine, Catherine or Kathryn?

I'm a Katherine, generally called Kath. Mainly because I'm too lazy to write the whole name in emails and so it catches on quickly.
Its a bit of an 'old' name though now I think isn't it? There were 4 in my class as school, but I rarely see it now. (I'm 40) My grandparents generation names (Daisy, Jack, Maisy, Elizabeth etc) seem back in fashion. When I was a kid they were all so out of style! Funny to see them coming around again.

Katherine seems the classiest. But not a fan of Kate though but love Katherine

How about Katerina or Katia?

I have an 11 year old Catherine who goes by Katie or Kat, (or more recently, Reen). I originally wanted her to be just Katie, but DH wanted Catherine and whist it took a while to grow on me as her formal name I love it now, even though I hardy ever call her Catherine. I don't think it really matters which spelling you chose as people will call her whatever you do, so you don't really need to worry about her being called Cathy or Cath of you don't like them. No one has ever called my DD Cathy.

But I also agree with pp that if you like the name Kate then it's a perfectly valid and beautiful name in its own right.

Catherine. It's my name and I love it.

I know a Catherine/Kate but I've never shortened my own name.

I've never understood the nickname Kate, Katie, Katy for Katherine/Catherine. I think if you want Kate then call her Kate or Katie, it's a name in it's own right. I know a Catherine called Cat and a Katherine called Kat and a Katy who is just Katy.

WE have a Katherine who is a Katie - I would have been perfectly happy with Katie on the BC however DH wanted her to have the option of a more “professional” sounding name if she chooses when she is an adult so we compromised and went with this (he originally wanted to call her Katherine all the time and I didn’t). As it stands she gets called many variations of her name dependent on mood and person but she’ll always be my little Katie bum! In a time where people literally make names up I think it’s a beautiful name with plenty of options for nn if you felt it too formal!

I've never understood the nickname Kate, Katie, Katy for Katherine/Catherine.

Because Kate/Katie originated as a nickname for Katherine? That's where it comes from. What's to understand?

I'm a great believer in 'full names on birth certificates' and I like Katherine/Catherine. It's a nice name, and classic. It was overused in the 1960s I suppose and that's why some of you don't like it, because you associate with middle aged women you know and because you always have to follow the latest trend.

Going from a Ca sound to a Kay sounding nickname, it never seemed to flow naturally. That's what I've always find odd. So I'm always curious how Katie/Katy came about. I think now Katie is used because it's common knowledge that that's the nickname, rather than it just naturally being shortened to Katie from Katherine if that makes sense.

But it could be a language thing I suppose. In many languages Cate would have the same beginning sound as Catherine or Catarina, where as in English the e on the end changes the sound of the a. So maybe that's why.

I'm probably just over thinking it.

I see what you are saying, but many of the older short forms of longer names do not necessarily match the vowel sounds of the longer name that they are the diminutive for.

Eg. Maggie, Meg and Peggy for Margaret, Eliza for Elizabeth, Sally for Sarah, Molly for Mary. Jack for John and Harry for Henry. So therefore Kate for Katherine. I don't know why, I guess it's weird, but it's not unique to Katherine.

Also why do you get Bill for William, Bob for Robert, Dick for Richard. Completely different letters!

Wow! So many responses! Thanks so much! DH and I talked about it yesterday and have agreed that we will just stick to Kate! I feel such a relief really as i think i was trying to convince myself to love Katherine. It is a lovely name but i just dont love it and it turns out DH feels the same. But we both love Kate! I've managed to persuade him that it's fine to have Kate on the BC! Yay!!

Then he told me he's started to picture a baby girl called Emily!! Looks like we're still not finished deciding yet.....! Ha ha!

That’s great. Kate is a lovely name, but I would think that as it’s my little girls name 😄