So still just gathering ideas for the future at this point. But my husband loves the nickname [name_f]Cat[/name_f]/[name_f]Kat[/name_f], which I also really like. So trying to find some longer names to add to our list that can be shortened to it.
Our top two are [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] and Katara.
[name_f]Catriona[/name_f] - we like this name, but with the cat-ree-oh-na pronunciation, which I know isn’t the traditional pronuncation, although that’s probably how most people here in [name_m]New[/name_m] Zealand would instinctively pronounce it. I also feel that with this name being 4 syllables it would always be shortened, and while I like nicknames, I don’t want to end up using all the time, and barely ever use her full name.
Katara - we really like this name, it has more meaning to us, with it being a character from the avatar, which we both love, and that her element is water, which is important to us (we both love water, and got engaged and married on a beach). But is it a bit too nerdy to name her after a kids show? Is it too out there? Or am I over thinking it? I also really like that at 3 syllables her name won’t always be shortened. But if she’s not keen on her name when she’s older she could go by [name_f]Tara[/name_f], as well as [name_f]Kat[/name_f].
So which name do you prefer, and why?
Which name do you think would go better with brother [name_u]Toby[/name_u]?
And if you’ve got any other suggestions for longer names for [name_f]Cat[/name_f]/[name_f]Kat[/name_f], we’d love to hear them!
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] is nice, I’ll mention it to hubby, thanks
Could still use some thoughts on [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] and Katara though please!
The obvious answers are [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], [name_f]Kristen[/name_f], or [name_f]Kirsten[/name_f], but I don’t think they’re your style (me neither). I personally like [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] a lot, but am really intrigued by Katara. I’m not familiar with what it’s from, so an outsider perspective: I find it easy to spell, pronounce, and it’s not long, complicated, or obviously scifi/nerdy/over the top. If it has more meaning to you, I think you should use it.
You could use a C/K name (such as [name_f]Cora[/name_f]/Korra, which might appeal to you like Katara does) with [name_f]Natalie[/name_f], [name_f]Atalanta[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], etc. as the middle name.
First thing that came to my mind was [name_f]Katrina[/name_f]. Such a beautiful with several nicknames what come with it, [name_f]Kat[/name_f], [name_f]Kiki[/name_f], or [name_f]Trina[/name_f]
[name_f]Catriona[/name_f] is a lovely name, and appeals to me a lot more than the [name_f]Katrina[/name_f] spelling. When I first saw the name I thought it was cat-ree-oh-nah too, so you probably wouldn’t have too much trouble getting people to pronounce it like that. BehindtheName lists both cat-ree-nah and cat-tree-oh-nah as pronunciations: Meaning, origin and history of the name Catriona - Behind the Name. [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] feels soft, gentle and sweet to me. I do think it would be shortened often partly because it’s a longer name but also because there’s an intuitive and obvious nickname- I find the latter often determines whether it gets shortened as much as the former does.
I like the idea of Katara and it’s creative and spunky, but it looks a bit harsh to me so doesn’t appeal as much. It’s unusual for sure, but it’s easy to pronounce and spell and its similarities to other names like [name_f]Kara[/name_f] and [name_f]Katarina[/name_f] make it accessible.
I know a girl named [name_f]Kat[/name_f] whose full name is [name_f]Katia[/name_f], that might be an option you’d like. She pronounces it kat-ee-ah but the traditional Slavic pronunciation would be kah-tee-ah. [name_f]Kat[/name_f] could be a nickname for [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], [name_f]Kaitlin[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], or [name_f]Katinka[/name_f] as well.
I’ll vote against purposely mispronouncing [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] and go with Katara, thought it reminds me of “Qatar”, and I’d prefer [name_f]Katarina[/name_f] or simply [name_f]Kate[/name_f].
