Do you favour Kate over Catherine; William over Wills?

As school children and their families across the land prepare the Union Jack bunting and stock up on sausage rolls for those Royal Wedding street parties, family finance expert, The Children's Mutual has been reviewing its 900,000 Child Trust Fund accounts to see just how Kate compares to Catherine and if Will or Bill comes out on top in the average British home.

In the case of infant school boys,tradition is king with William far outstripping any of its abbreviations as the given name for a son and heir with 88% of parents choosing to use the name in full. Billy came a distant second with only 9% of usage and Will and Bill less popular still (3% and less than 1% respectively.)

Playground Princesses- in-waiting would seem to be a more casual lot with Katie outranking all others as the given name in 60% of cases. Kate and Katherine are next in favour with 12% and 10% usage each. Whilst Catherine, Katy and Kathryn sit further down the list but are close cousins at 7%, 6% and 4% each.

When it comes to their financial footings the nation's Williams and Catherines are very evenly matched with the boys receiving an average monthly saving from friends and family of £28.50 whilst the girls are given £26 a month.

Andy Brown, Head of Sale & Marketing at The Children's Mutual comments: ‘No doubt most of our children have nicknames and abbreviations that are more commonly used on a day-to-day basis but it is interesting that British parents see their little boys given name in quite formal terms whilst they are inclined to use a more familiar version of a name for their little girls.

What is more important in the long term is that all our children be treated equally in terms of saving for their futures. Child Trust Fund children and their families are fortunate to have this resource available to them and I am delighted that so many are embracing it even in these difficult economic times. We can't all give our children the trapping of Royalty but even £26 or £28 a month put aside on a regular basis over a child's life could give them £10,000 as they reach adulthood.'

Parents and children can find out more about their own name or any other name by visiting The Children's Mutual Baby Name Finder at thechildrensmutual.co.uk.