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I feel a great deal of ambivalence toward Joan. I consider it handsome, and I like seeing it used to some extent. I want to like it -- I like other names with a similar feel (like Judith and Susan) -- but I just can't get excited about it. I like Jean and Jane moderately, but only as first names. Joan I would like as a middle name -- it doesn't seem like a filler. I find Joanie annoying.

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My office has a young male patient named Joan, which is maybe part of my issue. His parents' first language is Spanish or maybe Portuguese, and his name is supposed to be pronounced more like Juan, but they pronounce it like the English girls' name Joan (JONE) when they talk to English-speakers. I think it's so weird.