For me…
- I take a special interest in meaning and etymology. Surprisingly, this is somewhat uncommon on Nameberry, but my top names must have lovely meanings or they just don’t feel right. I wouldn’t name my child a name that had an unfortunate meaning - for example, I love the name [name_u]Claude[/name_u], but I just can’t get past the meaning.
- It can’t be a name of someone I have been close with, unless it is an intentional honour name.
- ‘Nicknamey’ names must have a full name that would go on the birth certificate.
- I agree with both previous posters - a name must be able to grow with a person. If I can’t picture the name on a particular age group, it’s probably not the one.
- [name_u]Unique[/name_u], but not something completely unheard of.
I don’t think I have heaps of criteria, but the criteria I do have, I’m pretty strict on and don’t have any exceptions as far as I’m aware. The meaning and etymology restriction has been tough, but for me, it’s so worth it. I’m not suggesting other people follow any of my criteria, by the way! This is just what works for me.

Some names that fit my criteria…
Girls
[name_f]Evaluna[/name_f], [name_f]Alaska[/name_f], [name_u]Léonie[/name_u], [name_f]Behati[/name_f], [name_f]Marijke[/name_f], [name_f]Sunniva[/name_f], [name_f]Madalyn[/name_f], Karsia, [name_f]Olga[/name_f], Eydís, [name_f]Pipaluk[/name_f], Eelisi, [name_f]Elska[/name_f], [name_f]Abeni[/name_f], [name_f]Katja[/name_f], [name_f]Lesya[/name_f], [name_u]Sasha[/name_u], [name_f]Vesna[/name_f], [name_f]Alina[/name_f], [name_f]Ekaterina[/name_f], [name_f]Esther[/name_f], [name_f]Iskra[/name_f], Lenka.
Boys
[name_m]Caspian[/name_m], [name_m]Oskar[/name_m], [name_m]Endymion[/name_m], [name_u]Griffin[/name_u], [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], [name_m]Viktor[/name_m], [name_m]Sigmund[/name_m], Conrad/Konrad, [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m], [name_m]Rasmus[/name_m], [name_u]Bellamy[/name_u], [name_m]Lajos[/name_m], [name_m]Vartan[/name_m], Avedis, Alexander/Alexei, [name_m]Jairus[/name_m], [name_m]Oisín[/name_m], [name_m]Finnian[/name_m], [name_u]Noor[/name_u].