Variants of Kate

Renisra+2

DH and I are both on the semi-same page with Kate, but we've got a small problem. We can't agree about which variant we like. I would prefer Kate or Katherine/Catherine (would love some input on which spelling is best), and he prefers Katie or Caitlin (again with spelling suggestions, please).

I feel that Katie and Caitlin do not age well, and sound a bit childish for an adult. I have tried to suggest using Kate or Katherine, and he could call her Katie, but he doesn't seem to like that option.

So, I would just like to gather some opinions from others on these four names, and also on the spellings of Catherine or Caitlin.

BunnyBerry

I would not consider Katie for a given name, only a nickname.

This would be my suggestion too: I have tried to suggest using Kate or Katherine, and he could call her Katie.

Renisra+2

mjreilly2 said:

I prefer Catherine. Love it. Also like: Katerina/Katarina, Kathleen, etc.

Caitlin and ONLY Caitlin, in terms of spelling. NMS.

Katie is too nicknamey.

Thanks! I do like the Katarina/Katia/Katalina type names, but they don't pair well with our DD, so those were ruled out. I also do not like Kathleen. It sounds dated to me. Thank you for your suggestions, though!

Renisra+2

frankenboom said:

If you love the name Kate/Katie, I'd name her Katherine. 

I'm a Katelyn and agree that it doesn't age well. I feel like a little girl when I introduce myself, and always wish I'd started going by Kate sooner (I'm Kate to family and friends but never was able to merge it into my professional life - I know this is weird).

Thank you for replying! It is great to hear from people who have the names to see how they feel about them. I also know an adult "Katie" and she hates that she has no "real name" or "professional name".

4N6s

Kate, Katherine or Caitlin.
Definitely not Katie.

Renisra+2

ClaryPax said:

I have a relative with the name Kathryn, and now I really like that spelling.  It is a legit spelling.  If you want to use Kate then I would start the first name with a K not a C. 

Caitlin is too 1990's for me. 

I was curious if using the K for Kate would be a problem with Catherine with a C. I'm not sure what the "rules" are for that.

Renisra+2

Idani said:

Personally I prefer Catherine. I think Kate or Katie is a fine nn with it.

I do not like Katie as a given name.

Caitlin is nms.  It just doesn't compare to the classiness of Catherine IMO and I tend to not like names that end in the lynn sound.  

When my husband and I were discussing names with our first I liked Luca, he liked Luke and we both disliked Lucas.  It went off the list. 

I have tried to basically add to the list, as this is the only one we have so far that we both like, and I haven't gotten anywhere. We have extremely different tastes, and so far, this is the only name we can agree on in any fashion. I'm sure it will work itself out but it has been so much harder this time! I'm beginning to think there might only be one girl name out there that we both really loved.

Helenahhandbasket

Catherine.  So much softer looking that Katherine, IMO.

I've never like Caitlin.

Also- if you want other suggestions for names you could NN Kate-- there's Catalina, Katrina and Kathleen.

fostersstudio

If it helps my sister's name is Katie (not short for anything) and it fits her well as an adult. But she does also occasionally go by Kate for short. One thing to consider with either Kate/Katie is that the majority of people will assume it is short for Katherine. My sister was asked that all the time growing up. Easy enough to say "no, just Katie" though. Her nickname was Katiedid (like the leaf bug) when she was little. She loved it.

DaisyZH

I really love the name Caitlin. I know it seems dated because of the popularity in the 80s/90s but I just think it's lovely. I know two 4-year old Caitlins and several in their 30s, I think it ages well.

conradraging

Catherine is better than Katherine IMO. And I think you could still nn Kate.

Caitlin is fine but not as good as Catherine.

HeavenBlessedMom

I'm katherine. English version is a C.
I've never been asked K or C..ppl just know.
NN katie sometimes kate
Classic names. I've always loved it!

BananaLettuce

Catherine Mae is in our top two. She would go by Kate (and will probably be called Katie Mae sometimes).

putput19

I'm a Kaitlyn. Growing up my nick name was Katie now I go by Kait (spelled because of how my parents spelt Kaitlyn). I like the spelling and going by Kait. I never go by kaitlyn thou

oliversbear

I went to school with several girls named simply Katie.  Since one is now a respected pediatric oncologist, and one is an elected official, I will respectfully disagree that Katie does not age well or that is not a name a "professional" woman can have.

If you want a longer name, I'd pick Katherine or Caitlyn.  But there is no reason why Katie cannot be an adult name.  In fact one of the girls I knew named Katie was an "adult" even when we were kids.  It's a perfectly acceptable full name.

harmonicbabe26

My DD's name is Katherine, our friends have a little Catherine. My DD goes by her full name, while our friend's DD goes by Cate. I know that in theory Kate can be/is a NN for Catherine, but to most people the K spelling would be automatically assumed. So of you went with Catherine/Kate it would cause confusion IMO. Meaning, if I saw a person's name Kate, I would assume their full name was Katherine (or maybe Kathryn). But not Catherine. I have 2 good GFs who go by Kate and their full name is Katherine.

But then you can look at Kate Middleton whose full name is spelled Catherine...

this decaf life

I only know a Kaitlin IRL and she goes by Katie/Kate occasionally. I prefer the K over C surprisingly enough for Kaitlin/Cailtin and Katherine/Catherine - especially if the NN is Kate/Katie. Both NNs work just fine for either name IMO.  

pipeTsquared

I'm going to throw out - Caitrin (which is the welsh variant of Catherine)

Caitlin IMHO should just be Caitlin nothing else spelling wise (all the ones I kow go by Cait)

I do have a soft spot for Kathleen but when it comes to Catherine I prefer the C. but know a fair few who use K in the nn, (but a few that use the C - which as it is pretty common/popular makes their name a little different being Cate with a C)

Mego04

I'm going with Kathryn and we are calling her Katie.

notreal2

Kate Middleton is a Catherine.  Not confusion on her part or the thousands who think she's the bees knees.

saham07

I would go with a formal name like Catherine , Katherine, Cathleen, Kathleen, Katherina, Katrina or Caitlin .

BananaLettuce

Mego04 said:

I'm going with Kathryn and we are calling her Katie.

FWIW, I know a Kathryn nn Katie, and she hates the way her name is spelled. She'd prefer Katherine.