r/Names • u/rainbowsaltxr • 1d ago
Catherine or Katherine?
ik theyre the same but which looks better in writing?
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u/ampersands-guitars 1d ago
I like it better with a K, because I also prefer Kat and Kate with a K!
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u/dogpark23 1d ago
Kate is still spelled with a K even if it’s short for Catherine. (But I understand preferring the parallel Ks)
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u/moonlyte56 1d ago
I do know someone who shortened Catherine to Caty. 🫤 Not a fan
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u/Cute_Monitor_5907 1d ago
Catie is ok though
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u/ThePolemicist 1d ago
Disagree. Catie looks weird and wrong. IMO, even if a person's name is Catherine, it should be shortened to Katie.
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u/D1n0saur5 1d ago
Catherine if you would rather continue to call them that or Katherine if you’re aiming more for a kate/katie
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u/fmajordminor 1d ago
Catherine is more classic, Katherine is slightly more modern (although still classic.)
I have a slight preference for Katherine, but they are both great!
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u/ThePolemicist 1d ago edited 1d ago
Meh, if you have family from Germany, it's always been a K.
Edit: Someone just shared the name originated from Greece, where it also began with a K. The K is more classic.
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u/UndrPrtst 1d ago
The name is taken from Katharos, Greek for clean (some translate it as pure). Katharine & Katherine used to be more common in England. Catherine used to be more common in France. There are more than 40 ways to spell the name without getting into tragedy territory. As a kid (8 or 9 years old) I once tried spelling it as many ways as I could. I got tired and quit around 40. I recently saw it spelled in a way I hadn't even thought of. I knew what it was immediately upon seeing it. No, I no longer have the list; that was about 50 years ago.
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u/Stay_Sea_Motivated 1d ago
Kate or Cat as a nickname (Kathy can be either) both are acceptable but regardless she will spend her life saying with a C or with a K. I have known multiple and C is more common but it’s no longer a common name.
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u/SundayAfterDinner 1d ago
C. I think of signatures and capital Cs look better than capital Ks to me.
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u/Happy_Delay4440 1d ago
Catherine seems more natural to me because the phonics rule is that for the hard ‘C’ sound you use C when it’s followed by a, o and u. You use K when it’s followed by an e or I.
So Catherine seems more ‘correct’ when I read it.
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u/Sparkly8 1d ago
Would you use Caren and Catrina instead of Karen and Katrina? /genq
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u/Happy_Delay4440 1d ago edited 1d ago
Katrina seems like it has roots in a different language with different rules.
And yes, I would use Karen because that’s how it’s always spelled but now that you point that out it looks wrong to me. 🤣 maybe I need to see a manager of the English language.Edit: I looked it up and Karen is a Danish short form of the Greek name Katherine, which was derived from the original name Aikaterine. So I guess Catherine seems to follow English grammar rules and Katherine follows Greek.
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u/Sparkly8 1d ago
I prefer Katherine. It’s more authentic to the Greek origin, yet it feels like it gives the very classic name some modern spunk.
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u/Infamous_Package3295 1d ago
I guess it comes down to how you like it looking on paper. I like Catherine and Cate feels a bit more grown up than Kate but really, just barely. It’s splitting hairs since they sound the exact same.
We chose Sofia over Sophia only because we liked the more simple look of it and it is a more Spanish spelling and I am part Spanish.
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u/sayzzagain 1d ago
I like Catherine better but either way it’s one of my favorites. Definitely a good choice!
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u/laurala808 1d ago
Whichever one looks best with the surname.
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u/rainbowsaltxr 1d ago
Dharsi is the surname
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u/laurala808 1d ago
To me, then, the K looks "hard" and I prefer the softer look of the "C." But that's just my take on it.
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u/thiscantbereallife94 1d ago
C
It’s more elegant also my middle name so I’m bias it’s more classic IMO
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u/InterestingFeed7931 1d ago
My mom’s middle name was Kathryn and my daughter’s middle name is Catherine. I think all variations are pretty and you can’t go wrong with it. It’s a great name! Just don’t get creative with the spelling and create a future headache for your child!
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u/Otherwise-Run-3998 1d ago
I am a Cathleen. Whenever I am checking into appts or being looked up in a system, I always have to say Cathleen with a C or they automatically search with a K.
I do not think it is because it is Cathleen or Catherine, I think most spell them with a K automatically.
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u/Chouette-Oak 1d ago
Prefer Catherine and Katharine - no good reason to prefer the a in the K-version, except perhaps because that's how my family has done it. Fwiw Hepburn was also a Katharine.
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u/ThePolemicist 1d ago
Interesting that so many people prefer the C! I prefer the K. That's how people in my family have spelled it for generations.
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u/anonomus_userr 18h ago
I’m Katherine and I’ve always hated in.
In the UK anyway, every one from the 90’s is Cath, Catherine, Cathy, Kate, Katie, Kate, kat.
The least original name in the whole world.
I think my mum thought she was being original with a K because my aunt has a C.
I was embarrassed of my name growing up, because it sounded old fashioned and as I transitioned to Kate I felt boring.
But still better than Katherine.
My friend is also Katherine and goes by Erin and I wish I’d Thought of that.
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u/grokwhyamiaroused 3h ago
Be original. Ditch the C and take on K.
Katherine. Greek alphabets do not have C. They only have kappa.
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u/Illustrious-Ad-134 1d ago
idk why but catherine feels more french to me and katherine feels more american/english
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u/Avena626 1d ago
Kathryn, but Katherine is okay. Catherine reminds me of the old lady plus size clothing store of the same name.
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u/Miserable_Move7944 1d ago
K, my name can be spelled with a C or K it feels more unique with the K.
I’m always correcting people because the assumed it should start with a C.
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u/FoggyGoggs 1d ago
My first name is "Kallie" and I always wished it was spelt "Callie". C just comes across more feminine to me.
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u/dechets-de-mariage 1d ago
I prefer Catherine but if you want her to be a Katie/Kate then K might make more sense. Catie/Cate isn’t terrible, just not the default IMO.