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When I worked in an archives a few years ago, I had to write down lots of men's names, and of course, in olden times there wasn't a lot of variety - especially if you were Scottish, apparently. By the end of the summer I hated the name Alexander, because I hated writing it. And I had grown to love Douglas, a name I previously thought was amazingly ugly. But writing it out so many times, and seeing it so rounded and smooth and friendly really warmed me to it.

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I have a whole list of names that normally I dislike or are neutral about on principle, but that if I say them enough begin to charm me, because they just feel so satisfying in my mouth. They include:

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Chelsea
Judith
Charlotte
Margaret, Margot
Edith
Ethel
Christine
Rachel

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Michael
Nicholas
Mitchell
Christian
Ethan