Message: "Katherine vs. Katharine"

[Opinions] Katherine vs. Katharine

by elsie (scholasticastewart)

6/21/2009, 1:31 PM

Katherine / Katharine / Catherine is one of those names that I just can't decide on as I'm not sure which version I like.

Currently I'm trying to figure out whether I like Katherine Alice Ophelia "Kate" or Katharine Alice Ophelia "Kate" more, to go with Charlotte Aloisia Mary (thus why I can't use Catherine "Cat").

Katherine is the original spelling (something I tend to respect), and is the most common form of the name.

Katharine is a variant, but it seems to have more of an old-fashioned charm to me than Katherine (perhaps of Katharine Hepburn?). Katherine seems average and plain, while Katharine seems more lively as it isn't as common (there are tons of Katherines at my school!). Yet, I've heard of Katharine who have their names spelled as Katherine.

So, which do you prefer: Katherine or Katharine?

#Katharine #Katherine

Replies

- Katra (Rowena)

6/22/2009, 1:28 PM

Katharine

- Chanel

6/22/2009, 8:40 AM

Definately Katharine. Katherine feels dumpy, dowdy, and plain, Katharine feels regal, gorgeous, and just...special.

- tara (guest)

6/22/2009, 6:23 AM

Katherine

- Mireio (Anna21)

6/22/2009, 1:46 AM

Katharine

- telfalathiel

6/21/2009, 8:42 PM

I prefer Katherine, but Katharine has been growing on me lately because of recent discoveries in my family tree.

- Elena

6/21/2009, 7:11 PM

Like you, I like Katherine's closeness to the original spelling, Aikaterine. I also like the fact that it's the most common spelling in the US (has been for awhile) so everyone knows how to spell it. That was an important consideration for me when I named my dd Katherine (Kate). Having said that, I think the spelling should complement the mn and the surname so I'd just wait to see how that works out. Keep an open mind. The combos you've picked out may change. Personally, I prefer Katherine but in the mn spot, I strongly prefer Catherine. For example, Julia Catherine or Laura Catherine just look right compared to Julia Katherine or Laura Katherine.

- BBH

6/21/2009, 4:59 PM

Katherine

I just like the e. It's as simple as that.

If it were my child, it would be Catherine.

- bunnygirl

6/21/2009, 4:56 PM

Katherine

- Wordsmith

6/21/2009, 4:34 PM

Why can't you use Catherine with Charlotte? I consider it vastly superior to both Katharine and Katherine.

I think I prefer Katharine (probably due to Ms. Hepburn).

- Kristen (iamkristen)

6/21/2009, 4:13 PM

Of those two, Katherine.

But overall I love Catherine.
Second would be Kathryn.
Katherine would be third.

- Snapdragon

6/21/2009, 2:52 PM

I like both, but easily prefer Katherine.

- queenv (guest)

6/21/2009, 2:39 PM

Katherine. I HATE Katharine. It almost ruins the name for me. I feel like taking an eraser, rubbing out the A, and replacing it with an E.

- Dracotorix

6/21/2009, 2:35 PM

Katherine.

- Circus Lullaby

6/21/2009, 2:17 PM

Katherine for me

For some reason the a bothers me, I don't know why. I want to like it, but it doesn't look right. I just like Katherine the most.

- Joan-Ay

6/21/2009, 2:13 PM

Katharine

I love this spelling, not that Katherine is ugly, but Katharine has that old Hollywood, black and white movie charm. I definitely want to use it someday. And like Aine said, there's so many variants for Katherine that anyone with that name will have to spell it throughout their life.

- Eilis (Suibhne)

6/21/2009, 2:04 PM

Katharine

It's Katharine for me today, though I'm only choosing it on a whim. I default to Catherine when I use it in combos or as a suggestion, but for me it's one of those names that I'm completely unprincipled on. I think its variants all look more or less as good as each other.

- Aine (poetic_freedom)

6/21/2009, 1:50 PM

I prefer the look of Katharine but she will be spelling it her whole life and people will skim over pages and assume it is the Katherine spelling. I don't find the Katherine spelling plain- it is common but that is just because it is the classic spelling and there is nothing wrong with that. Actually, you know what? All Katherine / Katharine / Kathryn / Catherine /Cathryn 's have to spell their name all the time regardless of whether it is the traditional spelling or not. It is a bit like my name in that way. And because of that I will vote for Katharine- because it is so old Hollywood and Katharine Alice Ophelia looks delightful when written out.

By the way, Charlotte Aloisia Mary is gorgeous :)

- Catarina (kollaps) +1

6/21/2009, 1:46 PM

To be honest, I prefer Catherine. But between Katherine and Katharine, I'd definitely go for the latter. It's slightly different without being "creatively" misspelled.

- elsie (scholasticastewart)

6/21/2009, 1:50 PM

I prefer Catherine too. But I already have two Catherines in my family (a cousin and an aunt), and if I was to hypothetically use it, it would be after Charlotte, and I wouldn't want to run a name "theme".

- TheDreadedSockMonkey

6/21/2009, 1:40 PM

Katherine looks better.

- Bellatrix (hellohi610)

6/21/2009, 1:40 PM

Katherine

- IndigoSorceress (Likeyeahwhatev)

6/21/2009, 1:36 PM

Katharine all the way.

It gets dark around here early, because of all the crows, what they want and where they came from, no one really knows...

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