Defining the limits of a name

[SeanCailleach]

What makes a name different for you, and why? I notice that people often define names as different where I would say it was merely a version. My own name has multiple forms and pronunciations, and I accept many of them. I'm beginning to wonder how common that is.

For example, would you think Catherine is the same name as Katharine? How about Katarina, Katrina, Kathleen, Caitlin?

Catherine and Katharine are the same name, just different spellings. The others are versions from other countries, apart from Katrina which is a modern(ish) variant.

^ agree with PP

I like names based in their spelling. For example I like Aimee but HATE Amy.

Also my partner is watching the new Star Trek and there’s a female named Michael which I think is awful! But then after saying that to him I remembered that out top name for our potential future daughter is Micah!

I feel similarly to @DoTheMaccaroni. I love Cara but hate Cora. Love Jasmine, hate Jasmin.

Sometimes small differences make the name seem totally different. Example isabel, Isobel and Isabelle. They’re all said slightly different, and the only one that looks right and sounds right to me is Isabelle. The others look wrong and I hate the sound of them

Our different perspectives are formed through our different experiences affected by our environment and culture. How we view a name is influenced by what we associate the name with which is subject to change. Celebrities, class, popularity, culture etc alter the way we see a name. Just look at 'Karen'.

There will be various feelings people have about Katherine compared to Catherine based on the environment they live in and the tribes they belong to. One persons Katherine is another persons Katherine.

Katherine sounds and is spelt different to Kathleen. So there's that as well.

I associate Katherine and Catherine with Catherine Howard and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and Catherine of Aragon. My brain makes a quick "royal" connection and there's imagery of dull lookinb of brunettes of high social status and a beheading. The TH sound makes me think of felt. Cath makes me think of catheter.

With Kathleen I hear Kaflayn said in a Norfolk accent because that was the name of a girl I went to school with who was very Norfolk.

Do you think that an here we are overly focused on spelling where in real life you often hear the name without seeing the spelling? There are people I've known for decades and never seen their name written down.