Katherine is a great name because when you're a little kid, you can be Katie, and when you're a sophisticated, yet rebellious teenager, you can be Kate and when you have a fancy nameplate and an office, and a secretary to answer your phone, you can be Katherine.
Yes, I remember reading a study some years ago now where the 'experts' claimed that to give your daughter optimum happiness through life the ideal name to give her was Katherine. For the reasons you give here, Rac. It has so many variations, shortened forms etc, that as the child grows and develops a personality it can find a form of this name to suit itself with ease.
I can't for the life of me recall what they recommended was the male equivalent. I know they had one though. I have the horrible feeling it may have been Alexander.
Interesting thread.
LabRat
(thinking of a whole world of little Lexs running around and shuddering...)
