D seems to be a really unpopular initial right now. An unpopular sound generally.
I think there's something to the idea that certain sound qualities are favored at different times ... as part of the spirit of the times. It would be interesting to understand how that works, if it is true. Anyway I don't think it's just because of people associating, say, D-names with wwii/midcentury trends and age (Deborah, Donna, Dorothy, Diana, Doris, Dolores).
I think the Explora stops people from using it, but I don't think that it would cause people to hate it if they met someone with the name.
I agree with you about it being cute, and certainly not less appealing than Nora and Cora. But I'm old and out of touch too, I guess. Or maybe we're just way ahead of our time!
- mirfak