Audrey: Deardra was the name of a movie. Joan Crawford* was in a movie named Deidra. I was pregnant with Dede and I went to the Palace Theatre by myself and saw the movie. I liked the sound of Deardra Dell. It sounded good. It rhymed. I spelled Deardra the way it sounded. Dierdra, the book, was the life story of a girl.**
(Heather: Yes, Deardra was also the name of a book. I’ve tried to find the book, but there are so many numerous ways to spell Deardra–Deidra, Deirdra, Deidre etc–that I have not been able to find it.)
* The name of the movie with Joan Crawford was “Hollywood Canteen” (1944)
** A book titled “Deirdre” by George Steel was published in 1904.