For me, if they have an unusual choice in names, or a taste similar to my own. Also if they’re looking for detailed feedback and comments on combos, for some reason particularly hypothetical (i.e. not about to be used for a real child) ones. I also like thinking of middles for names I find interesting - i.e. [name_f]Odette[/name_f] and Publius, yay, [name_f]Mira[/name_f] and [name_m]Harvey[/name_m], nay. I’m not sure what makes them “interesting” though.
Imagery threads are very appealing.
As far as thread titles go - titles that state exactly what someone wants, rather than “help with name”, tend to attract my attention; so do MN polls. [name_m]Long[/name_m], complex posts are more interesting, for me, than short ones with little or no info. I really enjoy @medfordkung’s posts because she always has some interesting names to talk about that I haven’t found middles for before, or even thought of before. I also like @ashthedreamer’s posts on her combos because they’re detailed, she replies, and it’s hypothetical (and has consequences - I mean, the last one I remember she was asking for a combo to go in her signature, rather than just a random combo).
I look for how many pple responded to the forum, or if it is an old forum. If it is old…whats the point, esp the one about using [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] as a name that some other family members used or may used…Really? If we are on page 5 of a recently forum, will my input be seen?
Oddly enough I was just thinking about this. Personally I like threads I feel I can contribute to, which usually means threads on names I like/love. [name_m]Just[/name_m] the name in the title will get me interested. Names I dislike I tend to avoid, because there’s not much I can say apart from hate. I quite like short answer threads that don’t take too long to answer, like this or that or pick your favourite and explain why.
I have noticed threads with more unusual choices and/or descriptions and imagery are quite popular, and they attract me too. I find good imagery easier to work with, and I’ve tried utilising it in a few threads (with varying degrees of success) but I often feel I ramble, so it gets convoluted and boring. They’re sometimes slightly enhanced when they’re for an actual child. I wasn’t around at the time, but I’ve checked out a few of ottilie’s threads (although she turned out not be who she said she was) and she was always very descriptive, lots of gorgeous imagery, unusual names, and for a ‘real’ child. I don’t want to delve in where I don’t know much and there were other factors, but she’d consistently get 10s of pages of responses and that always fascinated me.
I usually look at most of the ones which have titles I think sound interesting, and mostly I’ll only look at/reply to ones with fewer than 10ish responses because after that I feel like probably my opinion isn’t going to be that necessary in the discussion and I’d rather reply to someone who is still in need of feedback/a response.
If it’s for a real baby. I tend to skip over names to add to signatures or hypothetical babies.
I’m a sucker for a poll.
Threads about names that I personally like.
Pronunciation threads especailly for names like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] that those of us in the UK tend to pronounce differently to those in the USA.
I do this too but I worry that if we all bite our tongues and only those who like a name reply to threads that the OP will get a very unbalanced opinion.
*If the thread title is one requesting help or something, I’m more inclined to click on it. Maybe I can offer feedback.
*If the title contains a name I like, I’m just more drawn to it lol.
*If it contains some family drama/issues/special circumstances or someone is questioning a choice because they got negative feedback from someone, I’m likely to comment. I’ve dealt with similar things, tend to root for the underdog, and like to encourage people, especially if they are in the dumps because someone else got too big for their britches and tried to tell them what they should name their child (future or unborn, or otherwise).
*If the person has questions or wants feedback and hasn’t gotten many replies, I will usually comment on it.
*If I know someone isn’t going to get much support or usable feedback on their post, I will comment on it. For instance, @lawsonhaley likes names that aren’t really…eh…praised…on here. Granted, things seemed to have gotten a bit better, but people were judging the names more than they were helping her find middles or whatever.
*I know that some people don’t like the hypothetical posts, but I do. I’ll usually make a point to chime in on them.
*Now…I will avoid a thread if it is an obvious or suspected troll, or if I just can’t help. If someone posts “need name help” and I click on it to find a question about Greek names, for example, I won’t comment. I don’t know anything about Greek names. Things like that.
If the names in questions are the opposite of my taste, I’d rather just stay away from that thread. Maybe I’ll still reply sometimes, but most of the time, no, as I have nothing pleasant to say. I also avoid old threads/threads with many replies already (usually I don’t reply to anything older than several days up to a week and have over 5-6 pages replies already. Exceptions being made if 1) the OP still reply back AND I actually love the names in question. Or 2) it’s the names that make you go WOW, quick question thread and the like. Names for hypothetical babies are fine, as my own babies are hypothetical at this point, lol, but I do expect them to post less. For example, if a pregnant lady posts five threads about the names she’s considering, I may reply to all of them. However, if no baby is coming and there are several threads all together or one after another, I probably only reply to 1-2 of them, provided that I like his/her taste in name. Interesting title also help in catching my attention.
Oh and polls, I am a sucker for polls too. I almost always reply to those, even if I don’t always comment.
*Hypothetical babies/combos: I find that the OP tends to respond more. I get annoyed when I take a long time to make suggestions for a real pregnancy and the OP never responds.
*Names I like are mentioned
*Interesting topics
*A poster who seems to be able to accept positive and negative reactions to names: I’m not talking negativity like “your kids will hate you”, but something similar to “these associations might be unpleasant”. If the OP says positive responses only, I’m skipping the thread even if I like the names.
*Polls: They’re quick and easy
*If I notice a post by a regular (this goes back to responding more)
I would also add that I am more likely to respond if someone gives you an idea of what they are looking for. For example “we are looking for a name, we like [name_f]Emmy[/name_f], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] & [name_f]Millie[/name_f] but can’t use.” Then you have a starting point. I have seen a few posts which are just “help, we can’t think of any name for our baby, what goes with last name [name_m]Jones[/name_m]?” I don’t reply to those because I don’t feel I could be much help.
I agree with @elle-bea. I don’t like posts where they just say looking for names to go with last name and don’t give any insight into other names they like or description of style or anything.
Generally, I tend to prefer posts looking for suggestions of names, I seems to especially like those looking for sibling names. I like posts for real babies more than hypothetical, but it really depends on the post. I don’t really favor only posts with my same style. I like trying to fix the problem find the solution to fit their specific requirements so I tend to like the longer posts.
I don’t generally respond to posts just looking to reviews of their name list. I also don’t really like middle name posts. My husband’s culture doesn’t do middle names the same way most western cultures do, so I probably won’t get to do combos, we are still deciding.
I do respond to polls a lot, but usually don’t comment, just vote.
I also do like it when the OP responds, though they often don’t which is disappointing.
Oh and I usually only reply to threads from the past 2 days, unless OP has replied.
The names.
I have to be interested in the names/style the poster is asking about; I’m not particularly intersted in long, complicated, out-there names nor word names or very unisex names on girls (though exceptions prove the rule) so I don’t have anything sensible to add to the conversation unless the poster simply asks about usability or fit with sibling names.
Sometimes, combinations are also a little too boring for me, when people ask about choosing between [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or Cathereine [name_f]Mae[/name_f], I won’t make the effort to reply as none of them are particularly interesting to me (I do love classic names but they could be a little more exciting. “[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Lavinia[/name_f] or [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] [name_f]Augusta[/name_f]?”, for example, would be a post I’d reply to).
The poster.
I usually also reply to posters that have been around a bit longer, whose style I either really like or whose commentary on my questions I always appreciate, even if I don’t love the names/style they’re asking about.
I also really like posters that reply back, which I try to do, too (some of my threads are very long because of that but I feel that I owe at least a thank you, if not a comment on their suggestions to people who take the time to reply).
The question.
Usually, I don’t reply to posts such as “A middle for [name_m]Bennett[/name_m]?”. I have to really like a name to spend time compiling a list of middles that I like with a name.
I do like “what do you think of these combos” (if I like the style), “your imagery for this name?” or “do you like this sibset” - I like when people want me to review their ideas rather than come up with one for them.
Personally, I also like “hypothetical” questions more than “real baby” ones, I find discussing names much more fun that way (also, I don’t get disappointed if I don’t like the name chosen).
Lately, I really enjoyed @emmamay’s and @undertherainbow’s post as I really like their naming style
The posts that really grab me are the ones looking for names to fit a very abstract “feel” or illustrate an idea. They really get my creative juices flowing and I love having to analyse the imagery of names and dig a bit to find ones that match.
Otherwise I will always click a post if the poster seems to share my criteria in naming, because it means that we will be able to share ideas and hopefully have a discussion with mutual interest.
Agreeing with everyone who has said that the names themselves are a big determining factor in interest. Particularly, if the names in question are from a culture other than American/English, I’ll be more likely to respond. Sometimes it feels lonesome on this site when the names you’re planning to give your children as a carefully chosen hallmark of their culture are detracted from/commented negatively on because they’re “weird” or sound “made up” when, really, they’re just based in a different language, so I like to encourage others in the same boat and help out where I can.
Other than that, I’m drawn to threads that involve helping choose combinations and/or giving detailed feedback on names. I’m not picky about whether it’s for a real baby or a fictional character/signature pick/etc.; it’s just fun to think about names and consider new combos and help people find new favorites. Like @impwood said above me, anything that gets my creative juices flowing is something I’m interested in.
A detailed post, with explanations and some idea of the posters taste, i.e. If the post is just which would you choose [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] or [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]? 9/10 times I wouldn’t respond, if the post is something along the lines of wanting to honour a [name_m]Ben[/name_m] and the mum likes [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] and the dad likes [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], I am more likely to respond.
If there haven’t been many responses I am more likely to respond, or if the OP responds and the post develops as they narrow down their choices
Names I like, or have interest/knowledge of. I feel quite limited in my name knowledge compared to many nameberries so if someone is asking for names on styles e.g Greek that I am not confident with I will leave it to the experts
Interesting titles and polls are the main attractors for me as to whether or not I click on a thread.
If I see a name I personally like/love, I’m more apt to respond as well.
I like quick answer type threads. Like, “I love this name! gushgush” or “I think it would flow better if these names were swapped!”
If I’m being honest, these are the threads I notice:
Click bait. Anything that sounds super interesting, I’ll click on it. Usually, I’m disappointed
Touchy topics. What can I say? I’m a teenager, I am attracted to drama. I’ll go look at the “which boy name for my daughter” threads or the “should I name my child after myself/my husband” threads because I wanna see people with strong opinions. The Cohen threads are great too.
Names I like. I love to endorse names I like.
Names I really hate. I only answer if I don’t feel like others are doing a good job of talking the poster out of the name. However, I only do this for names that are potentially problematic, not just names I hate for personal reasons. For example, a “wdyt of Robert for our daughter” or “opinions on Lucifer?” threads.
Personal threads. Any “explain your combos” or “does your name taste influence your X” threads where I can answer.
The “Are popular names really that bad?” threads. At this point, I need to just have an answer typed up when I’m not heated. The answer is Yes, I dislike my name solely because it’s popular.
Polls. I love polls. They’re so easy.
Pronunciation threads. If there’s one thing I can do, it’s tell people how I speak. I talk a lot.
If it’s that time of year (which it is right now), I’m more likely to look at threads that were posted on my birthday (May 18). Especially in the Baby Name Games section where the threads stay relevant for a while. I know that sounds stupid, but it’s honest.
There’s probably more but these are the main ones.
Whether I reply to a thread and how much effort I put into it correlates pretty exactly to my ability to contribute - in terms of interest and knowledge and taste, and/or how much I will ‘‘get out of it’’ personally.
I haven’t read the replies yet but I have the suspicion that any frequent users will have answered similarly.
I’m sat here with a big grin on my face, “ooh, she mentioned meee!” Sometimes I wonder how much my input really counts on Nameberry lol.
I find I reply to threads where I think I can be helpful. So if someone’s asking for a nn and I can’t think of anything that’ll be mentioned, I probably won’t post. (However, if there’s an unexpected nn that I SUPER love, I’ll probably plug it shamelessly–i.e. [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] nn [name_u]Pax[/name_u]!) I also generally don’t post on threads where the poster is asking for EXTREMELY specific criteria. It’s just so much criteria that my brain shuts down and I can’t formulate a proper response, so I’ll let others who can help better answer. Which is why I so rarely respond to @saracita00’s threads, and why I rarely responded to @ottilie’s, before she was outed as a troll. (I at least try with [name_f]Sara[/name_f], though, as her kids’ names are brilliant, and I love talking to her, and her name ideas are always so cool!)
I find I respond to threads that I can relate to on a personal level, too. Yes, I’ll shamelessly go on a thread to gush about [name_f]Adele[/name_f] or [name_m]Casper[/name_m]/[name_m]Caspar[/name_m] if it’s being considered, but I more mean… as a [name_m]Christian[/name_m], I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] helping other Christians find names that are meaningful to our shared faith. (I love reading @titus245mama’s threads for this reason, and am slightly obsessed with her kids’ names!) I also love to suggest on threads with literary names, Narnian names, or astronomy names. Plus [name_m]French[/name_m] and Italian girls’ names, and Irish and [name_m]German[/name_m] boys’ names, and Scandinavian and Polish names in general!
I find I also respond to a lot of threads to the Berries I talk with on a regular basis, or of Berries who followed me here from the name site I was on before Nameberry.
I must be the ONLY one to hate polls, so, in general, I will avoid them for the most part. I also hate being asked (irrationally lol) to rank a name list from 1-10. Let me tell you what I think of them, but don’t ask me to give them a ranking like that! I’m terrible at it! (Plus, I can never tell if they mean order them in regards to my preferences, or if they want to know if I’d give [name_u]Everly[/name_u], [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f], or [name_f]Claire[/name_f] a 1/10, 7/10, or 20/10.) I love giving opinions on lists, but will probably not do it if it’s SUPER long. Up to 15 names, probably, but close to 30 or 40? It just takes too long.
I seem to always [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] to jump in on threads where new people are all, “I love [name_f]Lily[/name_f], but I can’t stand the thought of her being the 12th [name_f]Lily[/name_f] in her classssssss!” Erm, it’s very likely an improbability, lady. There averages out to be about 1 child with the number 1 name for each gender per grade per school district, so you’d be lucky if there’s more than 1 other [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f], or even [name_f]Emma[/name_f] in her class.
I also [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the what are your top 3/10/20/300/758302 (lol) names for each gender? What would you name quadruplets? What would you name 10 daughters? What would your dream family look like? What are your new crushes, etc., etc. threads. I basically just like talking about my favorites hahaha.
I was just thinking about this too! I very rarely post threads but have been thinking of posting more. I’ve lerked around for a while and have just started replying more.
I love polls, I usually won’t comment tho.
Pronunciation questions, I find those interesting
[name_u]Drama[/name_u] questions
I usually won’t comment if it already has many replies and don’t feel like I have anything else to contribute.
Names that I don’t like, I usually won’t comment.
Since I’m usually on my phone, I like threads where I can just do a sweet and short reply
I’m so honored! 
