Weddingbee Blog

When brides talk about a name change they are normally talking about their last names.

The Kate Debate

As you may know, I am obsessed with the British monarchy. With the royal engagement, I have been Googling for new information with reckless abandon. I found a little something that I find slightly upsetting. I’m about to get that off of my chest.

The palace has “changed” Kate’s name to Catherine. At least, that is what is being speculated. The reason being is that Catherine sounds stately and they are trying to get away from the moniker “Waity Katie.” So based on that slightly less than factual accord—let’s discuss.

I have gone by my nickname since birth. For clarity’s sake, let’s say my nickname is “Kate” and my real name is “Catherine.” If someone yells out Catherine, I look for my roommate from college. The only people who refer to me as Catherine are my mother and Zeb, but even then it is sporadic. I am Kate. I will always be Kate. When I was younger I always thought my name would change over to Catherine once I got to college, but it never happened.

You may wonder what the heckleberries is the big deal. Well let me tell you. When you identify by one name and you are legally another—which do you use for, say, your marriage ceremony? Obviously the documents will have my legal name on them, but what about when the priest says, “Do you, Kate, take this man…”? If he says “Catherine” it would be equivalent, in my eyes, to him saying the incorrect name. Also, what about the wedding invitations? Most people don’t know Catherine. Hell, Zeb didn’t even know my legal name for a few years. I still don’t think he can spell it.

I resent that Kate has to be Catherine—if that is indeed true. It’s an antiquated (I know—the monarchy is antiquated) belief that one must “mature” (for lack of a better word) in order to be married. Tom Cruise did it to Katie Holmes, too, when he had her change her name to “Kate.” I grew up with many people who were legally given the name Katie. Are they less mature because of their name? Do they get a bye because that’s legally their name? Or should they change it as they marry to seem more serious? I don’t get it.

I know it is a different kind of name change, and believe me, it’s an adjustment just thinking about changing my last name. I know some of you might not be able to relate. It is a little nerve-wracking to think people might be expecting me to change my last and first name. Of course I very rarely do things that people expect of me. Besides, my real first name and his last name together sound very much like an English school marm. I’m totally keeping the Kate.

So I wonder…is Kate Middleton wondering who the hell Catherine Windsor is?