I prefer [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], though the only nickname I like is [name_f]Callie[/name_f]. It feels warm and sunny, not ditzy at all. [name_m]Gregarious[/name_m] - much more so than withdrawn [name_f]Catherine[/name_f]. And regal. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] is fine as well, but less exciting.
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Both lovely, classic names! [name_f]My[/name_f] preference is [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], as I adore the nickname [name_u]Caro[/name_u] 
With regard to the southern pronunciation that you mentioned, I think spelling it [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f] could potentially get around the “Caro-LINE” pronunciation.
For [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], I do like the nickname [name_f]Kate[/name_f], but I agree with you that it’s fairly ubiquitous. Also really like [name_f]Cat[/name_f] / [name_f]Kat[/name_f], which seems less common!
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Both are gorgeous but I slightly prefer [name_f]Caroline[/name_f].
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] is very common, I’ve knwn so many of them including two of my best friends which is the main reason why it’s not on my own list. I’ve never met a Katherine/ryn that didn’t go by a nickname but most of the Catherines I’ve met have managed to stay as just [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], although people have definitely tried to nickname them. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you dislike the nicknames enough that it would bother you if she wanted to be Kate/Cathy/etc. and chose it for herself later in life? None of the K/Catherine/ryns that I’ve known have been snooty but the handful of Catherines mostly do lean towards the quieter side.
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] feels timeless to me and I did pronounce it the way you wanted. There are so many great nickname options! [name_f]Cara[/name_f], [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], and [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] are the three I bounce between but [name_u]Caro[/name_u], [name_f]Carly[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_u]Carol[/name_u], etc. are also great. Now that you mention it, I can kind of see why it feels like there’s a bit of a southern twang. It might be because of North/South [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] and it might be because, for me at least, there’s almost no difference in pronunciation when I say it normally and when I try to put on a [name_u]Southern[/name_u] accent. That being said, I actually associate it more with being Britsh than [name_u]Southern[/name_u]. I’ve never really known a [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] but the imagine I get in my head is very intelligent, sophisticated, and kind.
Another thing to consider is how much spelling and pronunciation correction each name will need. From watching my friends (Catherine and Katherine) the spelling will always need clarified but the [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] spelling is easiest since saying “Catherine with a C” will almost always get the right spelling but the K spellings ends up having to basically spell the whole name out every time to clarify between [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Kathryn[/name_f]. For [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] there is two pronunciations, caro-line and caro-lyn, so when someone is just reading the name that may need clarified but the caro-line pronuncation only has the one spelling so I don’t think she’ll have to explain [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] vs [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f].
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Okay, [name_f]Cathrine[/name_f] is gorgeous but nicknames are [name_f]Cat[/name_f] and Cath(y). I personally love [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]! I think it is so beautiful, in fact my step daughter is called [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] and she is sweet and fun. [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] can be [name_f]Lina[/name_f] ( the nickname we use) [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], [name_f]Linnie[/name_f] and lots of names go with her!
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I love [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]!
For a while, I would have said [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] / [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], but now I’m definitely more of a fan of [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]. If you love the nicknames, then that’s a big bonus.
If you don’t like [name_f]Kate[/name_f] or [name_f]Cathy[/name_f], I’d reccommend shying away from [name_f]Catherine[/name_f].
I definitely don’t think [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] feels ditzy, I picture someone quite professional. I think it feels beautiful and elegant. I used to feel the same way about [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], but I just feel that while it looks fairly pretty, the sound is very much less so. If it’s anything, I prefer [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] with a K.
I would say go with [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], but at the end of the day it’s up to you!
Also, I haven’t looked at historical usage, but I’d say [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] feels timeless, or at least classic. It doesn’t feel dated to me or tied to a particular period.
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