Kate

charlottegentry

Do you consider Kate an actual name, or just a nickname? I'm loving it as am actual name. Kate Ann in particular :-)

Steph1673

In general I consider it a nickname, but I don't hate it as a standalone, especially in the middle spot or as a double name.

ETA: What about Anna Kate?

yeah.

I love it. I think it stands alone beautifully (I actually like it better than the long names - Katherine, Kathleen, Kaitlyn, etc.)

That said, I think it needs a longer middle name. Kate Anne is a little short.

whatevs89

I just don't think Kate Anne flows well. It seems choppy and harsh. I usually prefer a full name but Kate is a nice stand alone. What about Kate Anastasia, Kate Annelise, Kate AnneMarie

charlottegentry

yeah. said:

I love it. I think it stands alone beautifully (I actually like it better than the long names - Katherine, Kathleen, Kaitlyn, etc.)

That said, I think it needs a longer middle name. Kate Anne is a little short.

It is short.. but the name holds a lot if meaning. If they're both girls I could incorporate Ann somewhere else.. which I probably would.

HopingforChange

Kate is nice. I think if you're going to call her Kate instead of Catherine, you might as well just name her Kate. She can always use Kate Ann as a double name if she feels she needs a longer name as an adult.

Dr.Loretta

NN only for me

Kate Ann makes me think of Cape Ann, a place not a child

DawnJM25

Kate can definitely stand alone as a fn but Kate Ann is a bit plain.  Could you lengthen the mn to give the name more oomph?  Kate Annette?  Kate Elizabeth? 

jburdet1

I think Kate stands alone perfectly.
Kate Anne has an okay flow.
I prefer Anna Kate.

mermaid1113

I love Kate! With that being said I have to agree with PP- I am not a fan of the MN that you have paired with it. The MN needs to have 2+ syllables for it to flow IMO.

Rebis58

My sister's name is Kate, I love it. Her middle name is one syllable too though, as is our last name, and she feels like it's too choppy and wishes my parents had given her a longer middle name. Just something to consider depending on your last name, although I don't think it's a big deal. I think Kate Ann is lovely.

laurapage81

I have a Kathryn and call her Kate.. I love the name I also like Kate as a mn. I know a Nora Kate...super cute. Both of my girls have formal/nicknames, but if it's nys, I say Kate is a great stand alone name.

cmw&tdm

I love Kate as a stand alone name, especially as a middle name.

Alid86

I think it's perfectly fine as a stand alone name - classic and timeless!

JaneArson

HopingforChange said:

Kate is nice. I think if you're going to call her Kate instead of Catherine, you might as well just name her Kate. She can always use Kate Ann as a double name if she feels she needs a longer name as an adult.

I strongly disagree with "you might as well just name her Kate."  I think you're giving your child more options by naming her Catherine, for example, and calling her Kate.  I love, love, love the nickname Kate, but I wouldn't use it as a full first name.  A name like Catherine is what my mom often calls a "power name."  It's classic, beautiful, serious, and I can see a woman named Catherine being a CEO.  My name is not Catherine, but a similar classic, serious name (of a former first lady... if that helps at all), with a common nickname.  I love having my full name on my resume and on my diplomas, even though I go by the nickname on a day to day basis.

My mom's name is Gail (which is absolutely a standalone name), but she has always wished she had been named Abigail instead - again, classic, beautiful, serious - even though she would use the nickname Gail. 

firsttimeauntie

mathymckenna said:

HopingforChange said:

Kate is nice. I think if you're going to call her Kate instead of Catherine, you might as well just name her Kate. She can always use Kate Ann as a double name if she feels she needs a longer name as an adult.

I strongly disagree with "you might as well just name her Kate."  I think you're giving your child more options by naming her Catherine, for example, and calling her Kate.  I love, love, love the nickname Kate, but I wouldn't use it as a full first name.  A name like Catherine is what my mom often calls a "power name."  It's classic, beautiful, serious, and I can see a woman named Catherine being a CEO.  My name is not Catherine, but a similar classic, serious name (of a former first lady... if that helps at all), with a common nickname.  I love having my full name on my resume and on my diplomas, even though I go by the nickname on a day to day basis.

My mom's name is Gail (which is absolutely a standalone name), but she has always wished she had been named Abigail instead - again, classic, beautiful, serious - even though she would use the nickname Gail. 

I don't quite understand this logic. Would you not name your child Jane or Mason or Ethan because you aren't giving them options? I don't mind Kate as a stand alone and I don't mind if people think it is just a nn but I've seen people use this reasoning before and I don't get it.

JaneArson

@firsttimeauntie  If I think of the examples that you used, Jane, Ethan, and Mason -  those names have some gravitas already, especially Jane.  Jane is a classic name that generally doesn't really have a nickname - and like Catherine is classic, beautiful, and serious.  At least, that's the kind of feeling I get from that name.  I think that Catherine, and calling her Kate does indeed give the woman more options than naming her Kate and then calling her, as the PP noted, Kate Ann.  Maybe options isn't the right word there, but it gives her a more serious, professional name to work with.  But again, those are just my personal feelings on the names.

When thinking about names for my potential baby girl (I'll know which team I'm on in two weeks!) I try to imagine her growing up to be a chef, a teacher, a CEO, a scientist, etc.  I think about her having that job and also applying for that job. I think about if the name that I'm choosing will lend itself to her being taken seriously within her field - especially if she chooses a male dominated field.  Just based on first impressions, a Catherine is going to be taken more seriously (I think) than a Candy or Cindy or whatever.

I don't know, maybe that's an UO, but those are the things that I tend to think about.    

Saragoeswest

I have been considering using Cate as a middle name. I think it stands alone just find. Similarly, a friend of mine named her daughter Meg. It seems fresh and timeless to me.

AggieKate

I am a Kathryn, who was named with the intention to be called Kate, and only Kate.  I have never gone by Kathryn.  (don't even get me started on the superfluous "y", wtf mom?)  Every year in school I would have to correct all of my teachers, and have to correct anyone who is going off of my driver's license or insurance info (doctors, etc).  It's annoying.  If you don't intend to call her Kathryn, just name her Kate.  It's a lovely name and I like it, but I wish they had just named me what they intended to call me.

J+A10

We named my 1 year old daughter Kate. We paired it with a longer middle name and we already have a longer last name. So for us we thought Kate was the better option. For what it's worth, we still LOVE her name. I have never regretted going with Kate vs. Catherine.

HeavenBlessedMom

NN
I'm a katherine Elizabeth who goes by Kate or katie

firsttimeauntie

@mathymckenna I get what your saying now, thanks