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HelpCatherine, Katherine and Kathryn (more)
This name is on my mind right now. Soon it might be the first time since the statistics exist that no spelling of Katherine will make the top 100. They all really seem to be on their way down. Do you think they will continue to fall? Does Katherine sound boring to you?
Do the different spellings bring different personalities/images/colors etc. to mind? Which one is your favorite, can you rank them? I decided to list the most common ones but you can add others:
Katherine
Catherine
Kathryn
Katharine
Which nicknames do you like? I guess it is falling out of favor because Kitty doesn't appeal to people so much and the other nicknames are dated/not ready for a comeback. Kathy and Cathy seem really 50s, Katie is 80s/90s, Kate a bit more 90s/00s and the full name might seem a bit overused/bland too? What do you think?
Kitty
Kate
Katie
full name?
Thanks :)
Do the different spellings bring different personalities/images/colors etc. to mind? Which one is your favorite, can you rank them? I decided to list the most common ones but you can add others:
Katherine
Catherine
Kathryn
Katharine
Which nicknames do you like? I guess it is falling out of favor because Kitty doesn't appeal to people so much and the other nicknames are dated/not ready for a comeback. Kathy and Cathy seem really 50s, Katie is 80s/90s, Kate a bit more 90s/00s and the full name might seem a bit overused/bland too? What do you think?
Kitty
Kate
Katie
full name?
Thanks :)
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Replies
As for the popularity of Katherine et al, I think the reason it endured so long - particularly in the Anglophone world - is because the naming pool itself was so limited. But now that more people are... well, aware of more names, then choices like Katherine, Elizabeth, or Mary seem so boring in comparison. It's like, "Sheesh, how many of *those* do I know?!"
I will say this, though: at least Katherine can be jazzed up with unconventional spellings that have actual history. It's true that the standardized spellings are Katherine (English) and Catherine (French - also in English history books), but way back when, people spelled their names however they wished. Catherine Parr - last Queen Consort of Henry VIII - actually signed her name Katheryn. Which is also how Katy Perry spells her real name. Kathryn is also a popular variant usually distinguished as "Katherine with a Y" (I also have a distant cousin names Cathryn). And then, of course, there is Katharine Hepburn.
Personally, I'm partial to Katharyn; but I know a real-life Katharyn would constantly have her name misspelled as Katherine or Kathryn. Even Katheryn is more common (Katharyn hasn't charted since 1893).
However, I'd more likely use Katarina as a name over any variant of Katherine.
As for nicknames, I like Kat most. Kitty is okay, too. I used to hate Kate / Katie, but it has since grown on me.
I will say this, though: at least Katherine can be jazzed up with unconventional spellings that have actual history. It's true that the standardized spellings are Katherine (English) and Catherine (French - also in English history books), but way back when, people spelled their names however they wished. Catherine Parr - last Queen Consort of Henry VIII - actually signed her name Katheryn. Which is also how Katy Perry spells her real name. Kathryn is also a popular variant usually distinguished as "Katherine with a Y" (I also have a distant cousin names Cathryn). And then, of course, there is Katharine Hepburn.
Personally, I'm partial to Katharyn; but I know a real-life Katharyn would constantly have her name misspelled as Katherine or Kathryn. Even Katheryn is more common (Katharyn hasn't charted since 1893).
However, I'd more likely use Katarina as a name over any variant of Katherine.
As for nicknames, I like Kat most. Kitty is okay, too. I used to hate Kate / Katie, but it has since grown on me.
This message was edited 5/30/2017, 8:51 AM
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Yeah, it was overused.
I prefer Catherine or Catharine.
C seems more calm/cool and K more warm/dynamic.
Kathryn is dated imo.
There's also Cathern / Kathern and Cathrin / Kathrin. I kinda like Cathern / Kathern, it has a very different vibe. I also kinda like Cathrin / Kathrin (not the German name but as an alt spelling in English) because it seems to me like the most simplified way to spell it without losing its Katherine-nature.
Kitty is a little bit Brandy -like. I think it's one of those nicks that has to be self-selected. I like it alright.
Of all the nicks I think I'm most partial to Kat and Cate.
Katie and Kate are nice too.
I prefer Catherine or Catharine.
C seems more calm/cool and K more warm/dynamic.
Kathryn is dated imo.
There's also Cathern / Kathern and Cathrin / Kathrin. I kinda like Cathern / Kathern, it has a very different vibe. I also kinda like Cathrin / Kathrin (not the German name but as an alt spelling in English) because it seems to me like the most simplified way to spell it without losing its Katherine-nature.
Kitty is a little bit Brandy -like. I think it's one of those nicks that has to be self-selected. I like it alright.
Of all the nicks I think I'm most partial to Kat and Cate.
Katie and Kate are nice too.
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I like the name. My preference for spelling is Katherine and then Catherine. Kathryn and Katharine are significantly behind. Kathryn doesn't look nice to me and it seems dated and less timeless than the others. Katharine brings to mind Hepburn and also makes me think someone made a typo.
My best friend texted me the other day about a name idea for her baby and asked, "What full name would I use to get 'Kit' for a girl?" I told her a variant of Katherine and she was far less enthusiastic. It was so overused where we went to school- we had 7 in our graduating class of like 140 people- so I guess she and others are read for a break from it.
My cousin, Katherine, goes by Kat. I think that's my favorite nickname. I also don't mind Kate but the rest don't do much for me.
My best friend texted me the other day about a name idea for her baby and asked, "What full name would I use to get 'Kit' for a girl?" I told her a variant of Katherine and she was far less enthusiastic. It was so overused where we went to school- we had 7 in our graduating class of like 140 people- so I guess she and others are read for a break from it.
My cousin, Katherine, goes by Kat. I think that's my favorite nickname. I also don't mind Kate but the rest don't do much for me.
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I think it will continue to drop, but still get some use, as classic names always do.
I don't think it's boring - it's never been a special favourite of mine, but it's a perfectly good name. I prefer Catrin to the English versions, and Catherine from those.
Pronounced with two syllables I don't think it needs an nn, but if I had to pick one, then Cat.
I don't think it's boring - it's never been a special favourite of mine, but it's a perfectly good name. I prefer Catrin to the English versions, and Catherine from those.
Pronounced with two syllables I don't think it needs an nn, but if I had to pick one, then Cat.
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Interesting, I am a Mary which has fallen out of the top 100 in the past few years. One thing I've noticed about having a classic name is that they are always out there, regardless of where the name fals on the charts, someone is still going to use these classic names.
I think Katherine is beautiful, and considering a lot of little kids dont bother using nicknames, you could use it without a nickname.
I think Katherine is beautiful, and considering a lot of little kids dont bother using nicknames, you could use it without a nickname.
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I have really never been a fan of Katherine (+ variants) though a couple of years ago Kate entered my Top Ten and continues to hover around my long girls list.
Not sure what it is about Katherine etc that I dislike; maybe it is the blandness as you've hinted at. I went to school with a few - usually spelt Katherine but there was one or two Catherines I think. None of them went by Kitty but Cathy and Katie were used in equal proportions - one girl solely went by the full version.
My friend's older sister was named Kathryn so I always associated that spelling with people born in the late 80s rather than 90s (my decade).
To rank:
Katherine
Catherine
Kathryn
Katharine (this looks so odd to me)
And nicknames:
Kate
full name
Katie
Kitty
Not sure what it is about Katherine etc that I dislike; maybe it is the blandness as you've hinted at. I went to school with a few - usually spelt Katherine but there was one or two Catherines I think. None of them went by Kitty but Cathy and Katie were used in equal proportions - one girl solely went by the full version.
My friend's older sister was named Kathryn so I always associated that spelling with people born in the late 80s rather than 90s (my decade).
To rank:
Katherine
Catherine
Kathryn
Katharine (this looks so odd to me)
And nicknames:
Kate
full name
Katie
Kitty
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Katherine is my favourite variant and Katharine & Kathryn my least favourites. Katharine just looks misspelled to me. I dislike Kitty and Katie as nicknames and hate them as full names. Cathy/Kathy are alright for older women but I can't picture a toddler Kathy.
My Christian name is Aikaterine, almost always shortened to Katerina in Greece and I also like Italian Caterina.
My Christian name is Aikaterine, almost always shortened to Katerina in Greece and I also like Italian Caterina.
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Catherine is my favourite, but I love all of the standard spellings: Catherine, Katherine, Catharine, Katharine, Cathryn and Kathryn. I love Kate and Katie, as nicknames or on their own. I also like nicknames Kitty, Kat or Cat, Kath/Kathy or Cath/Cathy. Katherina and Katrina are beautiful variant forms. Kathleen/Cathleen is lovely, too.
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If a name was ever popular and then fell from popularity, then yes it can be dated, and it doesn't matter how old and/or classic it is. It's possible that Katherine and all its variants will sound dated, if they fall in popularity enough.
I do think it's a tad boring due to centuries of overuse, yet it's not as boring to me as Mary and Jane are. It's like Elizabeth that way.
I like Kate and Katie as nicknames.
In order of preference:
Katherine
Catherine
Kathryn
Katharine (I always want to take an eraser, rub that A out, and replace it with an E)
I do think it's a tad boring due to centuries of overuse, yet it's not as boring to me as Mary and Jane are. It's like Elizabeth that way.
I like Kate and Katie as nicknames.
In order of preference:
Katherine
Catherine
Kathryn
Katharine (I always want to take an eraser, rub that A out, and replace it with an E)
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They probably continue to fall but never fall off completely. People want to be more 'unique' in naming and everybody knows a Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn/etc so people avoid it. (Personally I think Mary leaving the top 100 in 2009 was more significant than Katherine leaving).
K spellings are red, C spellings are sky blue to me. I like Katherine best, then Kathryn, I think.
As a child, I knew a Kathryn and a Catherine "Katie" (whose full name I never heard out loud) and I assumed Kathryn was pronounced Kath-rin and Catherine/Katherine would be pronounced Kath-reen. It took a long time for me to understand that they were the same, and I think that is part of the reason I prefer Kathryn over some other spellings.
The above mentioned Catherine "Katie" decided to go by Kitty in high school. She switched back in college but apparently I have a one nickname change limit, because I can't stop calling her Kitty. I like Kitty better as a nickname anyway, Katie is so generic. Kit is cute too. I also like Kath / Cath, but weirdly, not Kathy/Cathy.
A former co-worker named her now-1-year-old Catherine and she calls her by her full name. I don't think it automatically requires a nickname, it's only two syllables.
K spellings are red, C spellings are sky blue to me. I like Katherine best, then Kathryn, I think.
As a child, I knew a Kathryn and a Catherine "Katie" (whose full name I never heard out loud) and I assumed Kathryn was pronounced Kath-rin and Catherine/Katherine would be pronounced Kath-reen. It took a long time for me to understand that they were the same, and I think that is part of the reason I prefer Kathryn over some other spellings.
The above mentioned Catherine "Katie" decided to go by Kitty in high school. She switched back in college but apparently I have a one nickname change limit, because I can't stop calling her Kitty. I like Kitty better as a nickname anyway, Katie is so generic. Kit is cute too. I also like Kath / Cath, but weirdly, not Kathy/Cathy.
A former co-worker named her now-1-year-old Catherine and she calls her by her full name. I don't think it automatically requires a nickname, it's only two syllables.
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It makes me sad to see Katherine fading out of favor. I think it's a lovely classic and it has honestly never bored me.
I like Catherine best lately. The C looks softer and I prefer that just now. I really dislike Kathryn, because I pronounce it with 3 syllables.
I love Kate and Kit. Katie and Kitty feel juvenile to me. Kathy is just not to my taste. I also like just plain Kay.
I like Catherine best lately. The C looks softer and I prefer that just now. I really dislike Kathryn, because I pronounce it with 3 syllables.
I love Kate and Kit. Katie and Kitty feel juvenile to me. Kathy is just not to my taste. I also like just plain Kay.
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I think it sounds plain but not boring exactly...more just kind of traditional and feminine but unfussy. I get a similar vibe from Mary / Marie / Maria.
1. Katherine or Catharine
2. Catherine or Katharine
3. various other forms, like: Katrina, Catriona, Catarina, Katerina, Kathleen
4. Kathryn
I prefer Katherine just because that's the spelling I've seen most often. Kathryn is the only one of those I dislike.
1. Kate or Cate
2. Kit
3. Cat, Kitty, Wren, Kathy, or Cathy
4. Katie
My favorite NN for it is Kate because I think it ages well, and it's sweet but adds a little sass imo. Kit seems appealing in a fun retro way.
Cat, Kitty, and Wren are okay but nms. Kathy is okay but sounds middle-aged. Katie sounds annoying or whiny to me.
1. Katherine or Catharine
2. Catherine or Katharine
3. various other forms, like: Katrina, Catriona, Catarina, Katerina, Kathleen
4. Kathryn
I prefer Katherine just because that's the spelling I've seen most often. Kathryn is the only one of those I dislike.
1. Kate or Cate
2. Kit
3. Cat, Kitty, Wren, Kathy, or Cathy
4. Katie
My favorite NN for it is Kate because I think it ages well, and it's sweet but adds a little sass imo. Kit seems appealing in a fun retro way.
Cat, Kitty, and Wren are okay but nms. Kathy is okay but sounds middle-aged. Katie sounds annoying or whiny to me.
This message was edited 5/28/2017, 4:13 PM
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Catherine is definitely my favorite spelling. Just seems softer somehow. I like Cate/Kate and Kitty. I have a friend who calls her daughter Wren as a nn to Catherine! I have only met one (young) Katherine that goes by her full name. And I like Katerina even better than Catherine. Actually shocks me that it's not in the top 1,000!
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I don't think it will become unpopular any time soon; it's never been unpopular yet, for hundreds of years.
I think it's boring, very prim and safe and almost a "default" kind of name like Sarah or Mary. It's not a terrible name but it just tries to hard to be inconspicuous and beautiful at the same time.
I get no different vibes from the variant spellings except that Kathryn seems very middle-aged.
I think it's boring, very prim and safe and almost a "default" kind of name like Sarah or Mary. It's not a terrible name but it just tries to hard to be inconspicuous and beautiful at the same time.
I get no different vibes from the variant spellings except that Kathryn seems very middle-aged.
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