I think for me it’s the combination of the sound of the name & the way the letters of the name look that make a name “perfect.” Meaning is important as well, but not quite as much as the sound & look. Beyond that, it depends on what I’m after at any given time…do I want a very feminine name? a nature name? a name w/lots of nn possibilities?
A lot of my favorites are in my signature…I suppose that would be a grouping of “perfect” names.
There are a few names that fit these criteria to me:
[name_f]Maria[/name_f] - traditionally known and beloved in many cultures, feminine, almost everyone knows how to pronounce it
[name_f]Annika[/name_f] - not too common, but not completely unheard of, easy to pronounce even if your kid has a speech impediment, very pretty
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] - rolls off the tongue very nicely, and again, not too common but not unheard of
For me, the name [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f] is perfect but not as a nn for something longer, just [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f].
It was my mother’s name and she was strong, capable, beautiful, and everyone loved her.