Sometimes when I go to rename a pet or create an alt I get the message “this name is reserved”. Now, I understand what it means but how can a name be reserved and for what purpose? I’m just curious 
Certain names are blacklisted (you can’t use them) usually names that would be offensive, or might be confused for representing a real person.
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Generally names of major NPCs, I’m not entirely sure why, my guess is that it might interrupt with macros. Let’s say in the days of TBC you had a macro with /target Illidan but you had a player or a pet in the raid named Illidan, you can see how it may cause problems.
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Hadn’t even considered that. Always figured they just didn’t want people running around with big lore names 
Macro makes more sense.
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Thanks for your replies, I understand now. Sounds like good reasons to ban a name lol x
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i know some pet names that still work that shouldnt
like
“Cursor”
people that use /target cursor macros have bad time 
theres a list of them online if you google, if you want an advantage or just want to troll people using macro’s
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Lol that’s naughty of you! 
thats not even the worst one
theres other like
“Targetdummy”
“mount”
“bag”
“interact”
etc
you could simply use a name of your Raid tank, and watch some people accidently send heals to your pet instead of the tank
every hunter has done this at one point in their life im sure.
i think
" Tar" works too havent tested it though
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Remember in tbc times, when u named a pet from another player (and he/she was in your group), the dps counter addon cannot separate the 2, showing it as one character.
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We (meaning hunters) trolled with that stuff for a while in vanilla. Naming our pets after the main tank and such. 
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I dont, all my cursor macros are /cast [@cursor] hih 
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some people still use terrible macros, not all 
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Wait, what is the target cursor macro used again? I know the cast @cursor one but target cursor I havent seen. I guess its not too important though just wondering 
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some people use old macros from classic
like /tar
or /cursor or /target or /mouseover
it was common in classic to rename your pet to certain names to confuse the macros
some have been black listed now , but a few names persist that cause havoc on the macros
keywords like tar or playernames or syntax used in macros
thats why you cant name your Pet “target” or “mouseover” anymore
- some people might have /target Player macros . but if your pet is called “player” the macro would target your pet not the player
kinda funny but i think blizzard caught on quickly and they update the blacklist often
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Ah I see, thank you
I use alot mouseover macros to heal and i make every ground targeted ability on cursor to skip the second click phase to save time
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Make pets great again and ban macros instead .oh wait …
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I do that with my Spirit Beast’s healing ability so it always heals me as well as healing itself. I have it linked with mend pet so whenever both me and my pet need a heal I can do it quickly. Saved my bacon a few times.
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Are you brave enough to tell us the name?
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I can’t remember now but it was a completely innocent name. I remember that I tried to see if the name inadvertently spelled a swear word but it didn’t and that’s why I couldn’t understand not being allowed to use it x
You can’t use the name of an NPC, so you’re not going to see too many Anduins, Thralls nor Jainas running around.
You can’t use the same name as another PC on your server (group), so there’s only one Gram on Ghostlands (and probably linked servers).
You can’t use offensive words so you won’t see too many ********s running around either.
You probably can’t use certain other words like Troll, Orc, Gnome or similar. No Ashbringer, Dalaran nor Tanaris I would imagine.