Katherine or Catherine?
I made a poll the other day about these two because I was curious about which version was preferred. I expected Katherine to win because she's slightly more "modern-looking", but to my surprise Catherine edged her out by one vote.
(here's the poll for those interested: http://www.behindthename.com/polls/188223)
Which version do you prefer (if you had to choose)?
(here's the poll for those interested: http://www.behindthename.com/polls/188223)
Which version do you prefer (if you had to choose)?
Replies
I do prefer Catherine.
I suspect that Prince William's new wife might have resulted in a Catherine surge ...
Myself, I see Catherine as the French version of the Greek Katharine. So I hear Catherine in my head as ca-te-RReen, which doesn't work too well in English (especially in my lousy French accent!). I also prefer the more energetic look that I think Katharine has, compared to the more languid Catherine.
Katherine looks as wrong as Catharine! And I once taught a Catheline who insisted on 3 syllables. I just couldn't do it; it was like swallowing a live frog. I called her Cathy, and I'm not a nn person in the classroom usually.
Myself, I see Catherine as the French version of the Greek Katharine. So I hear Catherine in my head as ca-te-RReen, which doesn't work too well in English (especially in my lousy French accent!). I also prefer the more energetic look that I think Katharine has, compared to the more languid Catherine.
Katherine looks as wrong as Catharine! And I once taught a Catheline who insisted on 3 syllables. I just couldn't do it; it was like swallowing a live frog. I called her Cathy, and I'm not a nn person in the classroom usually.
I would personally use Katherine, but I also love Catherine. Both spellings have been used in my family.
Katherine.
:)
:)
Catherine, definitely.
Catherine
I used to far prefer K names, but I think that had to do with my name beginning with a C and thinking how much more exotic it would be with a K.
Now that I am an adult, I definitely prefer the duality of the letter C to K. For example, C is round and sleek and so feminine but can make the same strong "kuh" sounds as a K can.
Therefore a name like Katherine looks and sounds stern but Catherine sounds stern, but looks like a lady! :-)
I'm also starting to really like Cathleen too!
I used to far prefer K names, but I think that had to do with my name beginning with a C and thinking how much more exotic it would be with a K.
Now that I am an adult, I definitely prefer the duality of the letter C to K. For example, C is round and sleek and so feminine but can make the same strong "kuh" sounds as a K can.
Therefore a name like Katherine looks and sounds stern but Catherine sounds stern, but looks like a lady! :-)
I'm also starting to really like Cathleen too!
This message was edited 5/5/2011, 4:23 PM
Catherine, of course
:)
:)
Catherine
It looks more refined to me.
I know that Katherine and Catherine are both *proper* spellings, but because of this trend of spelling C names with a K (Khloe, Karter etc), it makes me view Katherine less favorably then I do Catherine. The whole 'K instead of C' trend has ruined Katherine slightly, as my mind seems to paint with the same brush, even though I know it's a proper spelling. Silly I know but there we are.
It looks more refined to me.
I know that Katherine and Catherine are both *proper* spellings, but because of this trend of spelling C names with a K (Khloe, Karter etc), it makes me view Katherine less favorably then I do Catherine. The whole 'K instead of C' trend has ruined Katherine slightly, as my mind seems to paint with the same brush, even though I know it's a proper spelling. Silly I know but there we are.
Catherine.
I love them both, but I like Katherine slightly more today.
If I had to choose, I'd pick Catherine. I've always preferred it (although in varying strengths), and if I had to use it I'd go for the more elegant, conservative version over the more bouncy, fresh version. But otherwise speaking I love both for different reasons and use them in whichever combos they fit best.
Catherine was the most common spelling in America for decades. When I named my dd, I looked to see which was the more common spelling because I didn't want her to have it misspelled her entire life. At that point, Katherine was the most common spelling and is to this day. After the popularity of the royal wedding, Catherine may very well pull out ahead once more.
For a fn, I prefer Katherine because it's closest to the original Greek, Aikaterine, and because I love the nn Kate with this spelling only (no Cates for me).
Having said that, I love the Catherine spelling as a mn. It just looks better in the middle, to my way of thinking. I'm sure there are exceptions, of course (Mary Katherine), but for the most part, I like Catherine.
BTW, I read somewhere online several years ago that C/Katherine is the only female name to be in the top 50 for the last 50 consecutive years. Seems to me that several others should join it (Elizabeth, Sara/h). Perhaps the site was going by spellings only.
For a fn, I prefer Katherine because it's closest to the original Greek, Aikaterine, and because I love the nn Kate with this spelling only (no Cates for me).
Having said that, I love the Catherine spelling as a mn. It just looks better in the middle, to my way of thinking. I'm sure there are exceptions, of course (Mary Katherine), but for the most part, I like Catherine.
BTW, I read somewhere online several years ago that C/Katherine is the only female name to be in the top 50 for the last 50 consecutive years. Seems to me that several others should join it (Elizabeth, Sara/h). Perhaps the site was going by spellings only.
Catherine-with-a-C has been out of the top 100 for several years now (#193 in 2010), so I think that statistic is only true of Katherine, which has been the most popular of the 2 for a quite a while now.
I like both, with some rules.
I thought Katherine was more of the original (though I suppose the "K" could still be "modern-looking").
I think it doesn't matter if you go by your full name. I also think that for some short forms, you don't have to have Katherine/Catherine as a full name. Kate shall suffice. However, if you're going to go by a short form with Katherine/Catherine as your full name, the first letter should probably match (so Catherine would be Cate, not Kate).
I thought Katherine was more of the original (though I suppose the "K" could still be "modern-looking").
I think it doesn't matter if you go by your full name. I also think that for some short forms, you don't have to have Katherine/Catherine as a full name. Kate shall suffice. However, if you're going to go by a short form with Katherine/Catherine as your full name, the first letter should probably match (so Catherine would be Cate, not Kate).
Catherine.
Catherine
I associate it with St Catherine and although I don't consider myself Catholic religiously anymore, I do consider myself culturally Catholic I guess, seeing as that is how I was raised and it is such a big part of my family life. St Catherine is one of my favorite saints and St Catherine of Siena is the patron saint of nurses and all the women in my family are nurses. It is also a massive family name for me so that helps. I think I generally just like Cs better than Ks as well.
I do like Katherine a lot as well. It was a very popular name in my age group (seven of them in my graduating class of 160 students) so it feels familiar.
I associate it with St Catherine and although I don't consider myself Catholic religiously anymore, I do consider myself culturally Catholic I guess, seeing as that is how I was raised and it is such a big part of my family life. St Catherine is one of my favorite saints and St Catherine of Siena is the patron saint of nurses and all the women in my family are nurses. It is also a massive family name for me so that helps. I think I generally just like Cs better than Ks as well.
I do like Katherine a lot as well. It was a very popular name in my age group (seven of them in my graduating class of 160 students) so it feels familiar.
I choose Catherine....
Catherine
I don't care that much for Ks. I'm also very traditional in my spellings.
I don't care that much for Ks. I'm also very traditional in my spellings.