Is Katherine / Kate going to get really popular now?

[GrumpyFish]

We had pretty much decided on either this or Alice for our baby due in April (if a girl, we're not finding out). I'm not looking for an unusual name, but would prefer to avoid top 10 / 3 in each class type names. Do you think that the impending Royal wedding is going to mean that Kate suddenly becomes very popular? I really struggle with girls names, these are the only 2 we can agree on (and want to have a choice one baby is here so we can see what suits, rather than having only 1).

[piscesmoon]

Surely they are both popular anyway?

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Just to add that my mother had to work really hard to make sure my DSis Katherine was a Kate / Katie NOT a Kathy. I do remember her correcting everyone with gritted teeth for years.

[gherkinwithapurplemerkin]

My dd is Catherine - known as Cassie. Such a versatile and timeless name imo. And I totally agree with the poster who said there are few 30 yr old Dianas.

[georgeclooneyfan]

My dd(11) is called Kate (purely Kate not short for Catherine etc) we wanted a name that was timeless and that you couldn't shorten.I think it is lovely for obvious reasons. I like Alice too though.

[dockate]

Katherine is a lovely name; of course I'm biased. I used Katherine throughout my childhood (Katy to my mother - even now), and am now Kate. I can't stand Kathy, though. I suppose its always been a classic name, so you can't go wrong, but it would be a pity for it to become too popular again...

[lushlady]

Yeah, don't let it worry you, if you like the name go for it. I'm sure they'll be a few extra Kates about but its one of those names that seems to stay in fashion without ever been 'too' popular, its a nice name.

[FellatioNelson]

Kaite or Cate has been popular (but not overly common) for years - I can't see this making much difference.

[FellatioNelson]

I don't know what went wrong with my typing there - I meant to say Kate or Katie!

[johnworf]

My 2 year old DD#2 is Katherine. We loved the name and it isn't shortened by us to anything other. No doubt once she starts school her friends will call her something shorter

We loved the name because it's traditional and surprisingly, we don't know any other Katherine's - with either the K or the C spelling. It isn't a fashionable name yet has been around for centuries.

I wondered myself if it would suddenly become more popular with the royal wedding news. (I secretly hope not)

[LadyInPink]

You may be on to a new spelling version Fellatio - Kaite or Caite!!

[randomama]

I was supposed to be Alice but Kate Bush released Wuthering Heights the week I was born and my parents changed their mind at last minute. Both lovely names, even if I do say so myself

[Ladyem]

My 3 year old DD is Catherine and I shorten in to Katie/Kat and it doesn't seem to confuse matters. I always wanted the 'K' spelling but DH talked me into using the 'C' spelling and I'm glad he did in the end. I love her name.

I don't know of any other Catherines in her nursery or play group, so not particularly popular round here either.

Love the name Alice, too. This was also on my list!

[katiepotatie]

I'm a Katharine, am known as Kate or Katie though. DD is Olivia Alice. So I'm obviously biased, I think they are both classic timeless names

[Kelziz]

I was worrying about this this morning as my DD 16months, also a Katherine, might just be young enough for people to assume I jumped on the royal wedding bandwagon. Hope not!

My eldest niece is an Alice - you really can't go wrong with your choices :)

[IntergalacticHussy]

what's wrong with Katy? Are we against 'y's now?

[imahappycamper]

Catherine is lovely and timeless. Would have had it for my DD except didn't go too well with surname and we had a relative called Kate with a chequered past!
Good point about Diana. Despite her popularity it didn't take off as a name.

[LadyInPink]

There is nothing wrong with Katy in fact i know one who spells it that way as it seems more chic (to her) than maybe the more baby form Katie. My name has an ie spelling at the end because the y ending looks common to me so each to their own i say!

I knew a girl whose name was Emily and she changed it to Emilie as it seemed better to her but i always saw it as Em-mill when written down as the l and i looked too similar but nowt so queer as folks as my mum says (very often lol)

[NorhamGardens]

I wonder why Diana didn't take off as a name? I think Margaret was popular because of Princess Margaret but less so Elizabeth in the day?

I believe William and Harry were popular partly due to the royal connection.

Perhaps people shy away from naming children after the future queen?

[piscesmoon]

Catherine, Kate, Elizabeth,William and Harry are classic names so will always be popular. I don't think that people are influenced-or very few-in fact it probably put them off in case people think they chose it for the connection.

[NorhamGardens]

I think there was a surge of William and Harry names after the princes were born. Agree that they are obviously classic names though.

[posypoo]

My LO is Catherine (Cate) Alice :)

[posypoo]

PS... so obviously I think both are lovely names. I'd have been happy with either, and we couldn't decide, to the point that we were still debating it when she was 3 months old. I say go with either, and don't worry about either of them exploding in popularity as they are both just lovely timeless names.