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Re: Joan
Joan has an ancient history of usage---it was popular in the Middle Ages. Then it was supplanted by Jane and eventually was considered dead. Think about it---when have you ever read about or heard of a nineteenth century Joan? Then unexpectedly, in the twentieth century, it came roaring back. Who can say why? One of the fascinating things about names, these inexplicable surges in popularity. But I think the rising-from-the-dead-status takes Joan out of the classic category. Classic names have been consistently used.
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It was consistently in use in the UK, although nowhere near as popular as it got around the turn of the 20th century.
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