I’ve had a ton of backlash over my favorite names and I need to be set straight if they’re just that bad. Give me your reasons why you love or hate them.
Girls:
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f]
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m]
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m]
Girls:
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - This one isn’t my style, but it’s not a bad name.
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - This is a GP name of mine. I think [name_f]Amy[/name_f] would be a cute nn. I actually met someone named [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] nn [name_f]Amy[/name_f]!
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - This one is pretty.
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - This one isn’t really my style but it is a good name.
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - I like this one!
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - I love this name.
I dont think they are horrible at all! I especially find [name_f]Cosette[/name_f] and [name_m]Matthias[/name_m] gorgeous!
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - I love this one, both on girls or boys
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - Very pretty, probably a little too out there for most people these days, but I think it’s great and if you love it you should go for it
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - Not one I particularly love, but I don’t hate it at all, and it’s a good name
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t particularly like it, but also a good name
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - Really great [name_f]IMO[/name_f]!
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - This one I don’t like at all. But I suppose that doesn’t make it horrible either
So in conclusion: In my opinion they’re FAR from horrible
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - I really like this name but on a boy. However, I can see the appeal for a girl.
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - This is really pretty. It’s a daring fn choice and would make a gorgeous mn.
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - I love this. I have [name_f]Colette[/name_f] on my long list and this is very similar.
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - I’ve just never really been a fan of this name it’s just nms, sorry.
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - One of my favorites it! [name_u]Love[/name_u] it.
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - This is the only one on your list that I can honestly say I dislike. It’s just too trendy sounding and reminds me of Riker Island lol.
Overall, I wouldn’t say your names are horrible. You have some real gorgeous ones on your list and while a couple are nms they are also not horrible.
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]- Probably a bit unorthodox, but it reminds me of my mother, who is from there, and I like it.
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]- I like this one, it can always be shorted to [name_f]Amy[/name_f]. It makes me think of a sweet little girl with curly blonde hair.
[name_f]Cossette[/name_f]- I’ve always loved this name. Beautiful and elegant.
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]- Not on of my favorites, makes me think of a pirate. However, it’s not a bad name.
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m]- [name_u]Love[/name_u] this!
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m]- I’m really not a fan of this one.
Your name choices are definitely NOT horrible! They are unique, and you wouldn’t have to worry about that child having to share their name with ten other kids in their class 
No, they’re not horrible. I think we all feel that way sometimes when people don’t have the same enthusiasm for our names as we do.
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - I like this for a boy. I don’t really see the appeal for a girl.
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - I like this more than I thought I would. I like the nickname [name_f]Amy[/name_f] that others have mentioned .
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - This is sweet, I really like it.
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - I personally prefer [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m], it’s less serious. Nice name though.
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - Great name.
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - I think of a prison, Rikers Island.
I definitely think some are more appropriate than others, but if you like them, that’s what matters! And no, none of them are horrible
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - really love this. I like for a boy, but I think it’s super cool for a girl
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]- I definitely don’t think this is name material. It’s hard to say… and her nn would end up being [name_f]Amy[/name_f] I’m sure
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f]- love love this name
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]- Not really a fan, but it’s not bad
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m]- love this name
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m]- love this name too
Personally I wouldnt want to be called [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] or [name_m]Ryker[/name_m] but other than that I like your names, especially [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] nn [name_f]Amy[/name_f].
I think all of the names on your list are pretty great, I especially like [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] & [name_m]Ryker[/name_m]. It’s okay to like what you like, and if people don’t like them, don’t listen to them.
I think [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f], [name_f]Cosette[/name_f], [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] and [name_m]Matthias[/name_m] are all fabulous names.
I’m not keen on [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as a first name (fine as a middle name), and [name_m]Ryker[/name_m] really isn’t my style, and certainly isn’t in the same league as [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] and [name_m]Matthias[/name_m].
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]: I really like this name, it’s super cute in my opinion
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]: I prefer this as a middle, but again it sounds so cute.
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f]: I really liked this name for a while after [name_u]Les[/name_u] Mis came out, but I’ve heard it so much now that I fell out of love with it.
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]: SO FLIPPING ADORABLE!
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m]: I don’t really like any name with [name_m]Matt[/name_m] as a potential nickname.
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m]: I don’t really like the sound of it. It sounds kind of harsh to me.
While not all of them are favorites of mine, they aren’t horrible.
Girls:
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - Not my favorite but not bad at all!
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - I think it’s very cumbersome but [name_f]Amy[/name_f] or [name_f]Ami[/name_f] make for cute nicknames
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - This is a fine name!
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - I love [name_m]Barnaby[/name_m] so [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] is wonderful
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - I quite like this
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - Not a fan. Maybe because I’m from the [name_f]East[/name_f] Coast and watch too much [name_m]Law[/name_m] and Order so all I hear is Rikers, ie Rikers Island.
Your names are definitely not horrible! They are just more unusual, and some people (especially those not very into names) will not be familiar with them. But they are all very lovely names, even the ones that aren’t my style, I appreciate as suitable names!
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - love this for a girl, am biased though as a family friend as a 2 year old girl [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] who goes by Phe.
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - this one is the gemstone to me, not really a name of my style, but that doesn’t make the word/name horrible at all. I would happily see a little [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] rather than, say, Pyrite. 
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - a gorgeous [name_m]French[/name_m] name!
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - love it!!!
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - gorgeous and classic form of [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] in lots of parts of Europe
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - I prefer [name_m]Ryder[/name_m], as [name_m]Ryker[/name_m] sounds a bit harsh to me, but it is not unattractive or horrible
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this thread helps reinforce that your name style is not horrible, and I agree fully with the PP who said love what you love, and be ok if that means you’re style is a little unique to others around you.
Your names are not horrible! Some of them aren’t my style, but they don’t have to be!
Girls:
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - I actually really like this, I would think about using it as a middle, except I live in [name_f]Arizona[/name_f], lol
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - I’m not a big gemstone name fan, but [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] is a lovely name, a lovely gemstone, and has a great “normal” nickname, which you can’t say for [name_f]Crystal[/name_f] or [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f]!
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - I am one of the (apparently) few people who prefers [name_f]Eponine[/name_f] to [name_f]Cosette[/name_f] in [name_m]Le[/name_m] Mis, but the name [name_f]Cosette[/name_f] is very pretty!
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - I love [name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] and [name_m]Barney[/name_m] is adorable!
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - [name_m]Matthias[/name_m] is a wonderful name, I wish my husband liked it!
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - This is the only one of your names that I don’t like at all, mostly because of the Rikers Island association.
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]: I prefer this for a boy, but there’s nothing wrong with it for a girl.
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]: this is kind of cute, but not my style.
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f]: this is adorable! I know a baby who was named [name_f]Cosette[/name_f] last month. Cozy or [name_f]Coco[/name_f] are great nicknames.
Boys:
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m]: I don’t really like how this sounds, but there’s nothing wrong with it.
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m]: this is a great name! It’s quite popular where I live, but I think it works well in English-speaking countries too.
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m]: not my style, but again, nothing wrong with the name itself.
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] - I love this. It’s sort of edgy but it’s not stupid edgy, it’s cool edgy and paired with a really feminine mn it could be lovely. ([name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] for example?)
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] - I think this name is really pretty, but I also think that on a child it could end up being one of those names that people think “who names their kid [name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]?” Again I think it’s beautiful but maybe ahead of its time.
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] - Probably my favorite on the list, because it’s more unique and fresh than [name_f]Collette[/name_f] but not strange at all. It’s pretty and gentle but just a little bit sassy.
[name_m]Barnabas[/name_m] - Honestly I don’t like this one much. It’s not a “horrible” name, I just think that it’s a little too Bible-times tough guy. Nice in theory; not the best for real life.
[name_m]Matthias[/name_m] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] love this one. A [name_f]Cosette[/name_f] and a [name_m]Matthias[/name_m] would be really good sib sets and it’s kind of a beautiful name but in a manly way?
[name_m]Ryker[/name_m] - I think this one sounds like you’re trying a little bit hard, but overall it’s a great name and it’s definitely edgy. It’s a little bit disco biker-ish to me (not sure why I think it’s disco-bikerish but that’s how it makes me feel.)
Overall I like these names and nobody should be telling you they’re horrible because they’re just not. I think names like Expliss and I-a (Idasha) and such are awful names but these are nice.