I'd never hear of Kirstie being a nickname for Christine. I found it in a name book and also in a novel I read before our Kyrsten (she changed the spelling) was born and liked it so... but it's always been Kearstun to us, but Ker-stun to other Americans, until Kirstie Alley became famous and Kirsten Dunst, then people became more knowledgeable about the way we pronounce it.

I've heard the Coal-in in some shows on BBC, but it doesn't sound the same as how COH-lin Powell is pronounced over here. To me, it sounds softer and I can still hear the Caw-lin. I can speak it that way, wiht a close approximation of the accent, but can't seem to get across in the written word. Hope that makes sense.

Thanks for all the comments on Kirstie, too!

kat