Re: Helen, Margaret, Susan, or Deborah
in reply to a message by Martha
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.
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.
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.
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.
Helen Rosamond
Helen Georgina
Helen Suzanne
Margaret Belinda
Margaret Lucy
Margaret Lyndall
Deborah Joy
Deborah Florence
Deborah Mary
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.
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.
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.
Helen Rosamond
Helen Georgina
Helen Suzanne
Margaret Belinda
Margaret Lucy
Margaret Lyndall
Deborah Joy
Deborah Florence
Deborah Mary