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HelpPronunciation question and a 'what's your fave spelling of...'
How would you pronounce Cateline?
I intend to use it for a character. I always really liked Caitlin and some time ago was asked how I would spell it if I couldn't spell it Caitlin and Cateline came to mind. So I always pronounced it KATE-linn. Now that I'm using it for a character I thought about whether I like it better as KATE-linn or with the ending said as -leen. Or the French way which would be kah-teh-LEEN (very very short -teh, kind of I'm not good at explaining pronunciations). I've never heard it used in France though. But that might be too complicated. KATE-leen instead? KATE-line sounds pretty weird. The good thing is it so uncommon that I could probably choose a pronunciation. Or would people just say it like Caitlin? I like that too.
I really love Caitlin but it's too common. Do you like it? How many do you know and how do they spell it?
What's your favorite spelling of Caitlin?
I intend to use it for a character. I always really liked Caitlin and some time ago was asked how I would spell it if I couldn't spell it Caitlin and Cateline came to mind. So I always pronounced it KATE-linn. Now that I'm using it for a character I thought about whether I like it better as KATE-linn or with the ending said as -leen. Or the French way which would be kah-teh-LEEN (very very short -teh, kind of I'm not good at explaining pronunciations). I've never heard it used in France though. But that might be too complicated. KATE-leen instead? KATE-line sounds pretty weird. The good thing is it so uncommon that I could probably choose a pronunciation. Or would people just say it like Caitlin? I like that too.
I really love Caitlin but it's too common. Do you like it? How many do you know and how do they spell it?
What's your favorite spelling of Caitlin?
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Replies
OK, the moment I saw Cateline, I thought cat-a-LEEN (like the French way you mentioned, but I hadn't read that far yet), closer to like Catalin than Caitlin. I wouldn't pronounce it Caitlin at all, though maybe if you dropped the E off the end. You'd probably get lots of people saying Kate-leen or Kate-line.
I don't mind Caitlin, but it is really common and I'm not too keen on the name Lyn, anyway. I know at least three with these spellings: Caitlin, Caitlyn and Kaytlyn. The last one detests her name and goes by Kayt (ie Kate). My favourite spelling is Caitlin.
I don't mind Caitlin, but it is really common and I'm not too keen on the name Lyn, anyway. I know at least three with these spellings: Caitlin, Caitlyn and Kaytlyn. The last one detests her name and goes by Kayt (ie Kate). My favourite spelling is Caitlin.
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Not knowing anything about it, I'd pronounce Cateline as KA-teh-lien. kat-ɘ-LEEN is very pretty, though, and would be my second guess. I wouldn't assume it was KAYT-lin...Catelin, yes, but Cateline, no. That final e changes everything.
I was born well before the Caitlin craze, but I've still met quite a few; several of my friends, neighbors, and coworkers are parents to Caitlins of every spelling imaginable. The most common spellings are Katelyn and Kaitlyn. My favorites are Caitlin and Katelyn.
I was born well before the Caitlin craze, but I've still met quite a few; several of my friends, neighbors, and coworkers are parents to Caitlins of every spelling imaginable. The most common spellings are Katelyn and Kaitlyn. My favorites are Caitlin and Katelyn.
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Love Caitlin (was almost named it, but they decided on Catalina because we're Portuguese) and Cateline is gorgeous as well. A French friend of my parents always called me Cateline, and she pronounced it KAHT-leen.
Favorite spelling is definitely Caitlin, the original. If it were my name I'd think about changing it to the French Cateline.
Favorite spelling is definitely Caitlin, the original. If it were my name I'd think about changing it to the French Cateline.
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Probably if the Cateline in question was my age or younger, and lived in my city, I would say it like Caitlin. Honestly, I know so many variations of Caitlin (I only like this spelling), including two girls from my high school named Caitline. Soooo yeah, I'm uncultured enough to say it like Caitlin. If it was on BtN or somewhere other than Australia, I would probably say it how everyone else is suggesting.
I like Caitlin but in all its forms it's too popular to be exciting anymore.
I like Caitlin but in all its forms it's too popular to be exciting anymore.
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I see it as CAT-uh-line. Looking at it longer, I tried to convince myself it was cat-uh-LEEN, but I can't fix it... it's rhyming with Madeline for me.
I know one Caitlin and one Kaitlyn. I think Caitlin is the most attractive of the common options, honestly, and messing with it more would just be confusing and lead to mispronunciation.
I know one Caitlin and one Kaitlyn. I think Caitlin is the most attractive of the common options, honestly, and messing with it more would just be confusing and lead to mispronunciation.
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I guess I'm the only one...
...because I would pronounce Cateline like Caitlin. I really dislike the name Caitlin (though this is my favorite spelling of the name) because I know about a bajillion of them, have bad associations with more than one, and already dislike the name Kate.
I like the sound of "kaht-LEEN" which I believe is actually the original/correct pronunciation of Caitlin. Cateline as "kah-teh-LEEN" makes enough sense also and I like it better it's just not my first thought
...because I would pronounce Cateline like Caitlin. I really dislike the name Caitlin (though this is my favorite spelling of the name) because I know about a bajillion of them, have bad associations with more than one, and already dislike the name Kate.
I like the sound of "kaht-LEEN" which I believe is actually the original/correct pronunciation of Caitlin. Cateline as "kah-teh-LEEN" makes enough sense also and I like it better it's just not my first thought
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My first instinct was to say kah-te-LEEN, but then I immediately thought, oh, maybe it's supposed to be like Caitlin. I think kah-te-LEEN makes more sense, but I've seen so many different spellings of Caitlin that's it isn't really a stretch to say it that way. I think Catelin would encourage more people to say it right the first time though.
My favourite spelling is Caitlin. It's simple and straightforward. I can think of 8 (various spellings), aged 17-26, off the top of my head. Pretty common in my age group.
My favourite spelling is Caitlin. It's simple and straightforward. I can think of 8 (various spellings), aged 17-26, off the top of my head. Pretty common in my age group.
This message was edited 4/2/2012, 3:40 PM
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I know a billion Caitlins of every spelling. Caitlin is my favorite spelling.
One thing I like about character names for myself is that the pronunciation is ambiguous. For instance, I have a character named Bruckner, which I guess most people would pronounce Bruck-ner as in rhyming with Truck. But it's actually more like Brook-ner. I like that! I would enjoy the ambiguity of a Cateline too. I'd say something like Cat-a-leen, honestly, not quite French but not confusable with Caitlin. I might sometimes say it in a French accent in my head, though.
One thing I like about character names for myself is that the pronunciation is ambiguous. For instance, I have a character named Bruckner, which I guess most people would pronounce Bruck-ner as in rhyming with Truck. But it's actually more like Brook-ner. I like that! I would enjoy the ambiguity of a Cateline too. I'd say something like Cat-a-leen, honestly, not quite French but not confusable with Caitlin. I might sometimes say it in a French accent in my head, though.
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I'm biased, but...
I'm Kaitlyn. Born a little bit before the huge Caitlin craze but not by much. While I understand my parents decision on my spelling, I can respect Caitlin a hell of a lot more than Kaitlynne and other such atrocities.
I connected Cateline to Cathryn moreso than Caitlin, really. In my head I'd say KATE-line which sounds very bad. If you like KATE-leen, why not look at the name Kathleen? I think that's pretty.
I'm Kaitlyn. Born a little bit before the huge Caitlin craze but not by much. While I understand my parents decision on my spelling, I can respect Caitlin a hell of a lot more than Kaitlynne and other such atrocities.
I connected Cateline to Cathryn moreso than Caitlin, really. In my head I'd say KATE-line which sounds very bad. If you like KATE-leen, why not look at the name Kathleen? I think that's pretty.
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I would pronounce Cateline as kah-teh-LEEN. It's actually kind of pretty.
Caitlin is okay, but nothing special. I've known people who spell it Caitlin, Kaitlyn, Katelyn and Kaitlen. I think I prefer the traditional (I believe?) Caitlin.
Caitlin is okay, but nothing special. I've known people who spell it Caitlin, Kaitlyn, Katelyn and Kaitlen. I think I prefer the traditional (I believe?) Caitlin.
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Cateline = KAT-ə-lin* to me -- my intuitive pronunciation for the name nothing like Caitlin at all. To be honest, I think Cateline = Caitlin is a stretch; I'd expect KAT-ə-leen, kat-ə-LEEN, or KAT-ə-line before Caitlin.
I've never met a Cateline in real life with that spelling; I have, however, known a Catalin and a Catelyn who used the same pronunciation (KAT-ə-lin). I find those variant spellings to be nice enough (even Catelyn, which looks somewhat trendy), though I prefer Cateline.
Caitlin is okay but rather common, like you said.
*too lazy to open up the IPA keyboard.
I've never met a Cateline in real life with that spelling; I have, however, known a Catalin and a Catelyn who used the same pronunciation (KAT-ə-lin). I find those variant spellings to be nice enough (even Catelyn, which looks somewhat trendy), though I prefer Cateline.
Caitlin is okay but rather common, like you said.
*too lazy to open up the IPA keyboard.
This message was edited 4/2/2012, 3:09 PM
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I don't really think it's a stretch. I mean Cate is usually pronounced like Kate (actually it's always pronounced like Kate) and -line is commonly pronounced as -linn, -leen, and -line. So I think it's possible to use that pronunciation.
But I agree that KAT-e-leen is probably what most people expect and I really like it so it's probably what I'll go with :) Thanks!
I know it's only for a character but I need to pronounce it in my head, even for writing a story. Plus what if they'll make a movie out of it? :P
But I agree that KAT-e-leen is probably what most people expect and I really like it so it's probably what I'll go with :) Thanks!
I know it's only for a character but I need to pronounce it in my head, even for writing a story. Plus what if they'll make a movie out of it? :P
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If I just saw Cateline and didn't have any back story, I would probably think it was Cat-a-Line, like a line at the end.
If you want to use the Kate Lyn sound, and it's just for a story, just use Caitlin. Who cares if it's too common? Your character isn't real.
I don't like the name Caitlin or any of its spellings, because I don't like Kate or Katie, and I'm not even crazy about Katherine.
If you want to use the Kate Lyn sound, and it's just for a story, just use Caitlin. Who cares if it's too common? Your character isn't real.
I don't like the name Caitlin or any of its spellings, because I don't like Kate or Katie, and I'm not even crazy about Katherine.
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I'd say kat-a-LEEN. Never would've thought to pronounce that like Caitlin.
I like Caitlin. The name itself with all spellings counted is quite common, although I've never heard of one much younger than me (mid-20s). I think most Caitlins I know spell it Caitlyn. I know a few Kaitlyns too. Caitlin I don't think is the most common spelling, at least in my experience, and it's by far my favorite. So I think that makes it even more usable.
I like Caitlin. The name itself with all spellings counted is quite common, although I've never heard of one much younger than me (mid-20s). I think most Caitlins I know spell it Caitlyn. I know a few Kaitlyns too. Caitlin I don't think is the most common spelling, at least in my experience, and it's by far my favorite. So I think that makes it even more usable.
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I really like kat-a-LEEN and KAT-a-leen at the moment so I think I will use one of them. Probably KAT-a-leen, it's a bit easier to say for most people.
Yeah, I know, it's just that I first thought of it as a spelling variant of Caitlin so I have that association :P
Yeah, I know, it's just that I first thought of it as a spelling variant of Caitlin so I have that association :P
This message was edited 4/2/2012, 3:17 PM
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I say cat-uh-LEEN (similar to the French, but not quite), but if I was a reader I'd either settle on Kate-leen or Kate-line. The problem with character name pronunciation is that really the reader decides how they're going to say it, and often don't realize they're wrong. I do like Caitlin, but not spelt Cateline, and I think KATE-leen would be better spelt as Caitleen or something.
I like Caitlin a lot. I know a Caitlin, a Kaitlyn, a Caitlyn, and a Katelyn. I've also seen Katlyn pronounced that way which I really don't like. Katelyn is my favorite, mostly because I'd want to use Kate as a nickname and that way it's more intuitive.
I like Caitlin a lot. I know a Caitlin, a Kaitlyn, a Caitlyn, and a Katelyn. I've also seen Katlyn pronounced that way which I really don't like. Katelyn is my favorite, mostly because I'd want to use Kate as a nickname and that way it's more intuitive.
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hahaha I know. I know a Katlynn who pronounces her name KATE-linn. Always thought that made no sense at all. It was constantly mispronounced. Then her mom decided to spell it Kátlynn to make people pronounce the first part like Kate. Made no sense at all :P
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