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The only one I would really have to avoid is Susan. For whatever reason, and I've known an assortment of Susans, I just don't get the attraction. I love Suzanne, and might consider Susannah as a mn for family reasons, but Susan itself is a no-no.

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Helen delights me! Light and dancing and warm and open. From what little I know, it seems less liked in the US than Ellen, which I find dowdy and pedestrian.

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Margaret is a joy. Timeless, austere but radiant, the only issue is the nn question. I don't enjoy Maggie; Meg does nothing for me and Megan does less; Peggy is cheerful and bouncy but doesn't seem to work any more. And here in South Africa the standard short form of Margaret is Margie, with a g rather than a j, and I can't stand it.

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Deborah, like Margaret, has a nn problem. The name itself is fine: good rhythm, good sound, good history, and who wouldn't enjoy sharing a name with a tough old lady who sat under a tree and judged Israel? But Debby ... is quite a powerful deterrent. Deb is fine, but Debs isn't. Complicated name.

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Helen Rosamond
Helen Georgina
Helen Suzanne

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Margaret Belinda
Margaret Lucy
Margaret Lyndall

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Deborah Joy
Deborah Florence
Deborah Mary