Can Kate stand alone?
Replies
No for Kate, yes for Leo.
I'm probably in the minority, but I really, really don't like most diminutives of full names given as a person's full name. In the case of Kate, she would have the choice to go by Kate, Katie... and that's it. What if she wouldn't have chosen Kate for herself as a Katherine? What if she preferred Kat? Or Kitty? Kathy?
Leo, on the other hand, can be a stand-alone name given that it's also a constellation.
I'm probably in the minority, but I really, really don't like most diminutives of full names given as a person's full name. In the case of Kate, she would have the choice to go by Kate, Katie... and that's it. What if she wouldn't have chosen Kate for herself as a Katherine? What if she preferred Kat? Or Kitty? Kathy?
Leo, on the other hand, can be a stand-alone name given that it's also a constellation.
Absolutely for both
Yes.
Yes to both of them.
Yes for both.
Yes, and yes. I've known Kate-only and Leo-only people, and it's nothing strange.
I prefer Leo as a stand-alone; perhaps because it is a word as well as a nn.
I prefer Leo as a stand-alone; perhaps because it is a word as well as a nn.
Sure, both are fine.
Leo is a full name, and Kate is one of those nicknames that sounds mature, sophisticated, and has the legs to stand on its own.
Leo is a full name, and Kate is one of those nicknames that sounds mature, sophisticated, and has the legs to stand on its own.
Kate is certainly preferable to Katie because at least it sounds more mature and sophisticated while Katie sounds eternally youthful. That's not a slam against Katie, though. My oldest dd went by Katie for 14 years until she decided that it was time for a grownup name. In addition, there was the problem of being one of many girls named Katie at school. (Her full name is Katherine, btw, and she uses it professionally now and is very happy to have that option available to her.) It actually surprised me when she chose to go from Katie to Kate because Kate had never occurred to me. It's just so hard to predict what a child is going to like isn't it? Anyway, so while Kate can stand alone, I believe options are always a good thing. I also like the integrity of a full name. Other full name options instead of Katherine: Kathleen, Katrina, Katerina (which is what I wanted to name my dd). There are several full forms out there depending on the language.
As for Leo, it can stand alone. It's a complete name in and of itself and is an element of Leonard / Leonardo ("lion" + "brave, hardy" = "brave lion") and maybe even Leonidas. I know the "Leon" part means lion, but I'm not sure about the rest of the name. The point I'm attempting to make this early in the AM is that yes, Leo is a complete name. BTW, if I had a son today, he'd be Leo (Gabriel). :-)
As for Leo, it can stand alone. It's a complete name in and of itself and is an element of Leonard / Leonardo ("lion" + "brave, hardy" = "brave lion") and maybe even Leonidas. I know the "Leon" part means lion, but I'm not sure about the rest of the name. The point I'm attempting to make this early in the AM is that yes, Leo is a complete name. BTW, if I had a son today, he'd be Leo (Gabriel). :-)
This message was edited 3/18/2015, 5:19 AM
Yes & Yes