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A local stand-up comedian where I live has a social-butterfly persona called Nowell Fine, because of the habit South Africans have of sighing deeply and saying "Ja, no, well fine" if they've got to go along with something however reluctantly.

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I've got a niece-in-law named Noelle who is intelligent and pretty. But I don't enjoy the rhythm - don't like spondees in general. I prefer Noel for a girl, pronounced NO-el like the boy name - a friend has a Noel sister-in-law and nobody's ever commented on it to my knowledge. So, if it was me, I'd use Noel as a mn for a girl. The other associations with Noel are very powerful, but it still starts with that big, thumping NO! And I don't find that encouraging ...