NN for Caitlin

[shashafrash.livejournal.com]

In a few short (I hope) weeks my daughter will be born, and my husband and I are still not set on a name. We have about 3 that were are going to choose from once she is born, and the top pick is Caitlin. Yes, it's popular...but I chose it because it is an Irish form of Catherine, which was my grandmother's middle name and I want to honor her. So, Caitlin after my grandmother and Elizabeth as a middle name after DH's grandmother.

The spelling of Caitlin is very important, as that is the proper Irish spelling. As a nickname we would probably do Katie...but is Katie with a "K" from Caitlin confusing? At the same time, doesn't Catie look like "Cat-ee"? Or would it be "Caitie"? (even typing that make me a little nauseas...I really dislike creative spellings)

Comments

[adamantplatypus.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think the K is a bit much if her name is C.

Catie isn't bad. I'd think it says "cate-ee". If it were Caty then it would say "cat-ee" to me. The cait implies cate to me, not cat.

What about Caity?

[http://users.livejournal.com/__recidivist/]

Yeah, I'm gonna call her "Caddy".

I like "Cate" more than "Kate", and don't like "Cait" or "Kait" at all. "Catie" and "Katie" are both common nicknames for "Caitlin", though I'll confess that I am always contemplative when I see a "C" to "K" nickname-- probably because the "C" version is fairly common.

Also, it kind of makes me think of stuff like "cotton candy" to "kotton kandy": what's the damn point?

[adamantplatypus.livejournal.com]

Er....Caddy as in Cadillac?

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

You can always simply call her Cate/Kate, which is the first nn that came into my mind. And no, I don't think Katie looks weird at all...

[freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com]

I think Katie for Caitlin is fine.

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

I think Katie is fine, but personally I'd spell it Caity since that is the most logical from Caitlin.

[juniorfan29.livejournal.com]

I agree with this. =)

[haughtymelodic.livejournal.com]

i like Cait,or Kate.Eh I can't read.Katie is fine but if I saw Catie I would read it Katie not Cat-ee

[subluxate]

My sister is Catie. No one has had a problem with it.

[xx-imagination.livejournal.com]

My name is Kaitlyn, so I consider myself a bit of a pro on this topic. My mother wanted to call me Kaity, but thought people would pronounce it Kite-y instead so spelled it Katie or Kate. Once I had a say, I changed it to Kait because it made more sense to me.

Catie, Caity, Cait, Cate, Kate, and Katie are all fine nicknames. Caitie is a little much, but if you like it go for it. She can always change the spelling if it doesn't suit her or shorten it to Cait or Cate as most of the ones I know do.

[emtotherescuee.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't suggest you name her Caitlin at all. Okay I said it.
Ugh, I don't want to sound rude or anything, sorry, but Caitlin is becoming very popular and, well, your daughter may feel like "everybody has her name" and that she's "not unique". Believe me, I'm an Emily, and it really really REALLY sucks having such a popular name. The spelling, Kaitlyn (my middle name, btw), which is the most popular I believe, is 44, which doesn't sound like a lot, but if the name climbs the chart...and all the Caitlin/Kaitlin/Caitlyn/Kaitlyns sound the same.
I don't know, I'm not you or anything, and I'm not trying to "diss" your choice, believe me, but I just know firsthand how horrible it can be to have a popular name. It definitely could be worse, and you are honoring your grandmother. Also remember, Elizabeth is very popular too. I think maybe you could keep Caitlin, but be a bit more original with the middle name, and maybe use Elizabeth on another child?

Would you care to share your other choices for her name?

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

Just to play devil's advocate, I like my common name a lot. Many people have been seen complaining that they have an uncommon name and no one can say it/spell it/whatever.

Just name your kid whatever you want and don't worry about how they'll react. You can't predict it anyway.

[nightskygalaxy.livejournal.com]

More devil's advocate.. I'm an Emily too and I love my name no matter how common it is ;)

To the OP, I think Katie and Catie both work as nicknames, so use whichever you like.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

I HATE KATIE WITH A C.

You just don't even understand. I hate it so much. That is actually why I refuse to name my child Caitlin or any variation. I only like Kate/Katie and you can only get that from Katelyn/Kaitlin/etc and then Caitlin is spelled wrong.

So I am just boycotting it. I ESPECIALLY hate with people said Cait.

[jordle.livejournal.com]

My friend's daughter is Kaitlin and my sister wants to use Katelin when she has a daughter. I'd actually spell it Catelyn because I love Cate with a C but I hate Kate with a K!!

I'd spell Katie Catey. I think people will pronounce Catie correctly though. I really hate Caitie.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

Catie is the same as Katie. It would need 2 Ts toi be Catty/Katty.

[ollivander.livejournal.com]

Caitlin is a nice name. I like Caity.

[freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com]

Also, I wanted to say that I really like your name choice. I know some people in this community won't like it because it's too popular, but it's really pretty. And go you for picking my 2nd favorite spelling of it (my first is Kaitlin). I think all the other spellings (Katelynne, etc.) are too kr8tyv.

[krosp.livejournal.com]

I don't know how popular Caitlin is anymore. It was pretty popular in the early 90s, but maybe it's average sort of popularity by now. I'm really happy to see that you're spelling it as Caitlin - it's my favourite spelling of the name by far, and the one that I consider to be the most legitimate spelling.

I actually quite like the name Caitlin although I don't think it's one I'd consider using unless my husband totally falls in love with it.. but if I did use it I'd definitely want to use the nickname Katie. Not sure how I'd spell it... unless she took it on board as what she actually went by, you may not even need to spell it all that much, but I agree you probably do need a spelling for it. Caity maybe? I don't mind Katie even, but you probably would be better with Catie or Caitie than using a K.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

It's hard to judge the popularity of Caitlin because of all the spelling variants. Sort of like how Aidan is not the top name on the SSA, but definitely is if you add up all the variants.

[krosp.livejournal.com]

Yeah.. I haven't looked it up actually but I haven't heard it recently here in Australia and I have a fair bit of exposure to kids.

To back up your point about the different spellings though:
http://www.namenerds.com/irish/Katelyn.html

Caitlin: NNs

[crossingthesea.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine is called Caitl by her family (pronounced Kate-uhl, as in without the "in"). It doesn't really work for me, but it's another option.

[omfg----hxc.livejournal.com]

I like Catie, Caitie or just Cait. And I definitely prefer the spelling of Caitlin. I like the sound of the name, but that spelling makes the name seem softer.

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

I know a Caitlin who goes by Cate/Catie and other than being told that it looks cool that way/that they like the spelling, nobody makes comments and everyone spells it correctly for the most part.

I like it better with a C and plan to use Cate as a nickname for Catherine, possibly.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I think Katie with a K looks really stupid if her name is Caitlin. I'm the person who doesn't think that the kid automatically needs a nickname, but I would definitly go with Catie if you wanted one. The K is not working.

[lovetokate.livejournal.com]

I really love Cait as a nickname for that spelling of Caitlin.

Only SLIGHTLY biased because I am a Kate (from Katherine.)

[arbus.livejournal.com]

i think catie is pronounced the same as katie, i dont think it will cause any problems at all. wonderful name, imo.

i know a girl named catherine who goes by cate and catie, pronounced kate and katie.

[jordiss.livejournal.com]

Cait. Not Caity, in my opinion.

[seksimaggie.livejournal.com]

The Caitlin I know goes by Caitie. I don't think it's bad or creative looking, because it comes from the real name. I do prefer the spelling Katie but I think that only works coming from Katelyn, I wouldn't use Katie from Caitlin.