[name_m]The[/name_m] consensus does seem to be falling more on the just [name_m]Tate[/name_m] side, but I personally would encourage [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] nickname [name_m]Tate[/name_m]. Partially because if you have a [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] “Scottie”, [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] “Tate” feels more cohesive to me. Partially because I love a stretchy, unexpected nickname. I also have experience going by a stretchy nickname and personally I love it but there are pros and cons.
Pros - I love the flexibility of going by my legal name sometimes. It gives me a kind of alter ego for business or professional settings. It also leaves room for [name_m]Tate[/name_m] if she wants a name that’s more feminine or wants to blend in a bit more than just [name_m]Tate[/name_m] would allow. It gives her space to reinvent herself.
Potential Cons: I will admit sometimes getting my nickname on things can be annoying. Sometimes I go by my full name somewhere just because I don’t want to deal with the minor hassle of correcting people. There is also the risk that little [name_m]Tate[/name_m] grows up and decides she actually wants to go by [name_m]Katy[/name_m] or [name_f]Kitty[/name_f] or [name_f]Kat[/name_f] or [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] instead. Technically, any adult could choose to change their name to anything, but it’s worth considering if you would dislike having your teen’s friends or everyone at the doctor’s office calling her [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] instead of [name_m]Tate[/name_m].
Overall, I really love having multiple names, and generally advise more name. I also think [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] “Tate” and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] “Scottie” are so cute and well matched.