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HelpKatherine, Kathryn, Catherine
Well, I fell in love with the name Katherine again. I mean I've always liked it as a middle name but it's really growing on me as a first name again as well.
I used to prefer Katharine, then Catherine and now I've also started to like Katherine (even though Catherine is still my favorite). I used to hate Kathryn but it has been growing on me and now I think it's kind of cute.
I have some questions regarding the name:
Which spelling have you encountered most often? If someone told you her name was Katherine what would be your first intention to spell it? (assuming you didn't know how it was spelled and couldn't ask her).
Do the spellings of the name conjure up different images of different people? For example is a Catherine a bit older than a Kathryn? Or would a Katherine come from a better social background than a Katharine? Is Kathryn a tomboy and Catharine a girly girl? Just tell me what first comes to mind.
What is your preferred spelling? Is there a spelling you don't like at all?
How many have you (roughly) met in your life? How many of them actually went by their full name? What was the most common nickname you heard for it?
How does Kathryn look to you? I'm asking this specifically because for the first time in years (well actually for the first time ever) this spelling looks at least a bit appealing to me. I used to think it looked horribly misspelled.
Would you call a daughter named Katherine by her full name? I think it's very appealing in its full version and have never met a Katherine who went by her full name all of the time so I think it might even be refreshing.
Then I'd like to know if you think it will sound dated (classic dated) in a few years? For the first time since popularity charts have been used there's only one spelling of it in the top 100 and even Katherine is falling rather quickly. I know it will never sound really dated but I wonder if it'll go the way Mary has gone.
I'm also wondering if Kathryn used to look as misspelled to people years ago as Emmah or Kaetlynne look to us now. Just seems like a very unusual spelling that somehow became a classic.
Many questions, I know, but thanks so much :)
I used to prefer Katharine, then Catherine and now I've also started to like Katherine (even though Catherine is still my favorite). I used to hate Kathryn but it has been growing on me and now I think it's kind of cute.
I have some questions regarding the name:
Which spelling have you encountered most often? If someone told you her name was Katherine what would be your first intention to spell it? (assuming you didn't know how it was spelled and couldn't ask her).
Do the spellings of the name conjure up different images of different people? For example is a Catherine a bit older than a Kathryn? Or would a Katherine come from a better social background than a Katharine? Is Kathryn a tomboy and Catharine a girly girl? Just tell me what first comes to mind.
What is your preferred spelling? Is there a spelling you don't like at all?
How many have you (roughly) met in your life? How many of them actually went by their full name? What was the most common nickname you heard for it?
How does Kathryn look to you? I'm asking this specifically because for the first time in years (well actually for the first time ever) this spelling looks at least a bit appealing to me. I used to think it looked horribly misspelled.
Would you call a daughter named Katherine by her full name? I think it's very appealing in its full version and have never met a Katherine who went by her full name all of the time so I think it might even be refreshing.
Then I'd like to know if you think it will sound dated (classic dated) in a few years? For the first time since popularity charts have been used there's only one spelling of it in the top 100 and even Katherine is falling rather quickly. I know it will never sound really dated but I wonder if it'll go the way Mary has gone.
I'm also wondering if Kathryn used to look as misspelled to people years ago as Emmah or Kaetlynne look to us now. Just seems like a very unusual spelling that somehow became a classic.
Many questions, I know, but thanks so much :)
This message was edited 10/8/2009, 4:26 PM
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Replies
Catherine is my favorite as I've got a reletive named Catherine. So if I met somebody named Catherine, Katherine, Kathryn, Catharine ..., I would assume it would be spelled Catherine.
I don't really like names starting with 'K' in general, and Kathryn looks horribly misspelled so I don't like Kathryn, Katherine, or Katharine.
I do like the name Catharine, however.
My relative, Catherine, went by Cathy in her youth. I know a Kathryn who simply goes by Kathryn. I know a Swedish girl named Catharina who goes by Cajsa.
I don't really like names starting with 'K' in general, and Kathryn looks horribly misspelled so I don't like Kathryn, Katherine, or Katharine.
I do like the name Catharine, however.
My relative, Catherine, went by Cathy in her youth. I know a Kathryn who simply goes by Kathryn. I know a Swedish girl named Catharina who goes by Cajsa.
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I've only encountered Catherine and Katherine except for one Katheryn. The Catherines I've known just go by Catherine. The Katherines tend to go by Katie.
Kathryn doesn't seem classic to me, it does seem modern like Katelyn or Emmah.
My preferred spelling is Catherine (no nn). It is the most sophisticated, imo.
Kathryn doesn't seem classic to me, it does seem modern like Katelyn or Emmah.
My preferred spelling is Catherine (no nn). It is the most sophisticated, imo.
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I love Katherine and Catherine and even Katharine but I dislike Kathryn. It just looks...lacking.
I'd assume the spelling Katherine but I would probably ask someone how they spelled their name, because there are so many spellings.
I think Katherine definitely works as a full name, and while I love many of the nicknames the full name is so lovely.
I've met a handful of Katherine/Catherine's in my life. But definitely no more then five. Keep in mind however that I grew up in a largely Jewish community and Katherine is very uncommon among Jews (it's still one of my favorite names though).
I'd assume the spelling Katherine but I would probably ask someone how they spelled their name, because there are so many spellings.
I think Katherine definitely works as a full name, and while I love many of the nicknames the full name is so lovely.
I've met a handful of Katherine/Catherine's in my life. But definitely no more then five. Keep in mind however that I grew up in a largely Jewish community and Katherine is very uncommon among Jews (it's still one of my favorite names though).
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Most of the ones I know are Kathryns or Catherines. I would use the K + a version - Katharine - if any; but it's not a top favourite and there are so many with so many spellings that I'd always avoid it.
I know a Kathryn who must be in her sixties, so at least one set of parents liked it just after WWII! And I now know a Catherine who goes by the full version, though she was Cathy at school and they became one of the first Caits.
It can be useful, and fascinating, to look at the popularity charts on namenerds.com, where all variant spellings are counted together.
I know a Kathryn who must be in her sixties, so at least one set of parents liked it just after WWII! And I now know a Catherine who goes by the full version, though she was Cathy at school and they became one of the first Caits.
It can be useful, and fascinating, to look at the popularity charts on namenerds.com, where all variant spellings are counted together.
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-I've seen it spelled Katherine most of the time, though the younger ones will spell it Kathryn. I prefer the former.
-Too many to count. Most of them were middle-aged women, and they went by Kathy. I hate that nickname; I think Kat or Kate is so much better.
-I prefer Katherine, but Kathryn is all right. Like I said, the younger girls tend to use this spelling more often than the classic one.
-I love the sound of Katherine. I too think it would be refreshing to hear Katherine instead of Kathy, or Kate (though I think Kate is cute).
-I think Katherine will always be a classic, just like Mary. Mary isn't as popular with kids today, but it's still there. It always has been. I see Katherine going the same way.
-Too many to count. Most of them were middle-aged women, and they went by Kathy. I hate that nickname; I think Kat or Kate is so much better.
-I prefer Katherine, but Kathryn is all right. Like I said, the younger girls tend to use this spelling more often than the classic one.
-I love the sound of Katherine. I too think it would be refreshing to hear Katherine instead of Kathy, or Kate (though I think Kate is cute).
-I think Katherine will always be a classic, just like Mary. Mary isn't as popular with kids today, but it's still there. It always has been. I see Katherine going the same way.
This message was edited 10/8/2009, 5:36 PM
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I have known 2 Kathryn's, 1 Catherine, and 1 Katharine. I also know a lot of Katie's, and I don't know how their full names are spelled.
Which spelling have you encountered most often? If someone told you her name was Katherine what would be your first intention to spell it? (assuming you didn't know how it was spelled and couldn't ask her).
Kathryn is what I would have encountered the most, but I would automatically spell it Katherine, the same way I expect people to spell my name RACHEL the first time; because it's the most common spelling.
Do the spellings of the name conjure up different images of different people? For example is a Catherine a bit older than a Kathryn? Or would a Katherine come from a better social background than a Katharine? Is Kathryn a tomboy and Catharine a girly girl? Just tell me what first comes to mind.
Only vaguely. Catherine is a bit stuffy imo. But since they're all so classic sounding, I wouldn't put tomboy and girly girl labels on them. All the Katherine's I have met (regardless of spelling) have all been lovers of literature and words though-- reading or writing, so I sort of expect that, a little.
What is your preferred spelling? Is there a spelling you don't like at all?
Katherine or Katharine, I guess. I don't like the C spelling much.
How many have you (roughly) met in your life? How many of them actually went by their full name? What was the most common nickname you heard for it?
About 4, but again, I know a lot of Katies and not their spellings. The Kathryn's both went by Kathryn, Catherine switched between Katie and Kitty, and Katharine switched between Katharine and Kate.
Which spelling have you encountered most often? If someone told you her name was Katherine what would be your first intention to spell it? (assuming you didn't know how it was spelled and couldn't ask her).
Kathryn is what I would have encountered the most, but I would automatically spell it Katherine, the same way I expect people to spell my name RACHEL the first time; because it's the most common spelling.
Do the spellings of the name conjure up different images of different people? For example is a Catherine a bit older than a Kathryn? Or would a Katherine come from a better social background than a Katharine? Is Kathryn a tomboy and Catharine a girly girl? Just tell me what first comes to mind.
Only vaguely. Catherine is a bit stuffy imo. But since they're all so classic sounding, I wouldn't put tomboy and girly girl labels on them. All the Katherine's I have met (regardless of spelling) have all been lovers of literature and words though-- reading or writing, so I sort of expect that, a little.
What is your preferred spelling? Is there a spelling you don't like at all?
Katherine or Katharine, I guess. I don't like the C spelling much.
How many have you (roughly) met in your life? How many of them actually went by their full name? What was the most common nickname you heard for it?
About 4, but again, I know a lot of Katies and not their spellings. The Kathryn's both went by Kathryn, Catherine switched between Katie and Kitty, and Katharine switched between Katharine and Kate.
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I would definitely spell it Katherine if somebody told me that was her name.
In my opinion...
Catherine is sophisticated.
Katharine is spunky.
Kathryn is plain and boring.
Katherine is calm.
My preferred spelling is probably Katharine or Catherine. I HATE Kathryn/Cathryn. I really only like/can accept Katherine, Katharine, and Catherine.
I know several Katherine's - upwards of 20 ranging in age from little girl to grandma age. I know 3 Katherines who go strictly by Katherine. Most of the other Katherine's I know go by Katie, Kate, or Kathy.
I like Katherine as a full name quite a bit, but it's my cousin's name (she goes by Katie) and I can't use it :( I would probably switch between Katherine and Kate. I love Kate! I think Katherine on its own is definitely refreshing.
I don't think it will ever sound dated - to me, Katherine is a classic name with nicknames that go through phases of being dated (Kathy, Kate, Katie, Kat, Kit, etc). In this case, I think it's a lot like Elizabeth (Bette, Betsy, Eliza, Lizzie, Liz, Beth, Betty, Ellie, etc).
PS. Have you ever typed/read a name so many times in a short period of time that it totally changes in your head, almost like an epiphany? Because that definitely just happened to me with the name Katherine :)
In my opinion...
Catherine is sophisticated.
Katharine is spunky.
Kathryn is plain and boring.
Katherine is calm.
My preferred spelling is probably Katharine or Catherine. I HATE Kathryn/Cathryn. I really only like/can accept Katherine, Katharine, and Catherine.
I know several Katherine's - upwards of 20 ranging in age from little girl to grandma age. I know 3 Katherines who go strictly by Katherine. Most of the other Katherine's I know go by Katie, Kate, or Kathy.
I like Katherine as a full name quite a bit, but it's my cousin's name (she goes by Katie) and I can't use it :( I would probably switch between Katherine and Kate. I love Kate! I think Katherine on its own is definitely refreshing.
I don't think it will ever sound dated - to me, Katherine is a classic name with nicknames that go through phases of being dated (Kathy, Kate, Katie, Kat, Kit, etc). In this case, I think it's a lot like Elizabeth (Bette, Betsy, Eliza, Lizzie, Liz, Beth, Betty, Ellie, etc).
PS. Have you ever typed/read a name so many times in a short period of time that it totally changes in your head, almost like an epiphany? Because that definitely just happened to me with the name Katherine :)
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I love both Catherine and Katherine, but I plan on using the spelling Catherine for my first daughter, Theodora Catherine.
I also love Katherine, but it conjures a darker image (midnight blue) than Catherine, which to me is more of a custard yellow or off-white.
I would not call Catherine any other name than Catherine.
Kathryn, next to the others looks diminutive, and choppy. I think it *still* looks trendy.
I also love Katherine, but it conjures a darker image (midnight blue) than Catherine, which to me is more of a custard yellow or off-white.
I would not call Catherine any other name than Catherine.
Kathryn, next to the others looks diminutive, and choppy. I think it *still* looks trendy.
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Well, its hard for me to answer without being sort of biased I guess. My sister in law is Catherine and we are best friends so i think of her in all good light. So naturally she comes to mind when I see the name spelled that way and its how I prefer it spelled. I would also spell it that way without knowing the persons own spelling, because thats what I am used to.
She goes by her full name in everything, except her husband and mother call her Cate, nobody else does though. She never ever gets called Cath or Cathy and would hate it if anyone did! She's Catherine to everyone. She is in her 20's and a very attractive and elegant person. its hard for me to seperate my images of her from the name, so i guess thats why my opinion is a bit biased!
She goes by her full name in everything, except her husband and mother call her Cate, nobody else does though. She never ever gets called Cath or Cathy and would hate it if anyone did! She's Catherine to everyone. She is in her 20's and a very attractive and elegant person. its hard for me to seperate my images of her from the name, so i guess thats why my opinion is a bit biased!
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