Note: This covers the basics of names in the Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory (the new name for the Rules for Submissions).  If you need more details, see sections PN and NPN of the Standards for the exact rule.
Introduction
The Standards for Evaluation are available at: http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/regs.html 
They are built around three important ideas: 
•	These are the standards that Laurel, Wreath, and Pelican use to evaluate submissions, not a how-to on choosing or documenting names and armory or a how-to on the submissions process
•	Most people interact with the Standards when they are working on a specific submission 
•	Appendices are awesome
The Standards are not a how to on creating medieval names, but there are resources for that:
•	Name articles on the Laurel website: http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names.html
Check here first!  Articles here are "no photocopy".
•	The Academy of St. Gabriel: http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/
Some items here are duplicated on the Laurel website.  Articles here are not "no photocopy".
•	The Cover Letter for the April 2009 LoAR, about summarizing name documentation: http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2004/09/04-09cl.html

Some Big Categories
Names in the SCA can be broadly divided into two big categories:
•	personal names, which are for a single human being
•	non-personal names, which are "everything else" and come in four kinds: branch names, household names, awards/orders, and herald's titles
For each of these categories (and armory!), the Standards for Evaluation break the standards down:
•	Content, the parts that make up names
•	Style, how the names are put together
•	Conflict, being too close to other names (and you can get permission for)
•	Presumption and Offence, making claims that nobody gets to make or are offensive
Several appendices exist to help apply these rules:
•	Appendix A: Information on name style for many different cultures
•	Appendix B: Background information on the types of bynames
•	Appendix C: The languages in each Regional Group and allowed Regional Group combinations
•	Appendix D: Information on handling non-Latin characters
•	Appendix E: Information on designators for non-personal names
Personal Names Content and Style
A personal name must be made up of two "name phrases" – a given name and some kind of byname.  Some names consist of multiple words, like atte Wode, which is why we use “name phrase”.  A name phrase must be generally consistent with a single time and place, which means all in one language context. That generally means it is one or more of:
•	a complete name phrase that is attested in period
•	a complete name phrase constructed from attested pieces
•	a translation into modern English of an attested or constructed period name phrase
•	follows a pattern of borrowing literary or religious names
•	a name phrase in the submitter's legal name
•	a currently registered branch name
•	eligible for the grandfather clause

The entire name as a whole must fit our standards for overall construction, which means it does all of several things:
•	each name phrase matches a period pattern for its grammar and location in the name
•	all elements are from in a single regional naming group and within 500 years
OR all elements are from two compatible regional naming groups and within 300 years
•	the name is not "obtrusively modern" –  unavoidably dragging us back to the modern world 

Regional naming groups are new in these standards – they simplify the many precedents on which languages can be mixed in a name.  For example, the Iberian naming group includes Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Basque, and Visigothic, and it is compatible with Arabic, French, and Italian naming groups.
Personal Names Conflict
•	It must not be too similar in sound or appearance: in general, differences to any two syllables or a substantial difference to one syllable in a word that is not an article or preposition is sufficient
•	It must not claim unmistakably to be the parent, child, or spouse of a protected person
•	Either of these can be allowed with written signed permission to conflict with the owner (as long as they’re not identical)
Personal Names Presumption and Offense
Personal names may not:
•	Claim a rank that we protect which the submitter does not possess permanently
•	Make an unmistakable claim to be a member of an important family
•	Make other claims to rank
•	Make a claim to have superhuman or magical powers or imply divine origin
•	Claim identity or a relationship with non-SCA individuals who we consider important enough to protect; same standards as for conflict
•	Be offensive to a modern audience; the standards are quite high
Non-personal Names Content and Style
A non-personal name must be made up of two parts: designators and substantive elements.  

The designator says what kind of name it is and must match it in type. Most non-personal names have standard designators (like Barony, Order, Pursuivant), but some need to be documented.  

The substantive element says which one it is.  It must be consistent with a single time and place, which means all in one language context. This generally means that it is one (or more) of:
•	a complete substantive element attested in period
•	a complete substantive element from attested pieces
•	a translation into modern English of an attested or constructed period name phrase
•	follows a pattern of borrowing literary or religious names
•	a name phrase in the submitter's legal name
•	contains a currently registered branch name 
•	eligible for the grandfather clause (branches get some special allowances)

A non-personal name must as a whole be consistent with a single time and place that names of that type were used.  Non-personal names may not be "obtrusively modern" – unavoidably drag us back to the modern world.
Non-Personal Names Conflict
•	The substantive elements must not be too similar in sound or appearance: in general, differences to two syllables or substantial differences to one syllable in a word that is not an article, a preposition, or a conjunction is sufficient
•	It must not unmistakably claim to belong to or be affiliated with any name we protect
•	Either of these can be allowed with written signed permission to conflict with the owner (as long as they’re not identical). A change to the designator is sufficient in this case, except:
o	Two branch names that only differ by designator
o	Award names, order names, and heraldic titles that only differ by designator 
Non-Personal Names Presumption and Offense
Non-personal names may not:
•	Claim a rank that we protect which the submitter does not possess permanently
•	Use the names of peerage orders or important mundane knightly orders in certain ways
•	Use elements that would be presumptuous for individuals
•	Make a claim to have superhuman or magical powers or imply divine origin
Note: an entity may be named for a saint or deity without making such a claim
•	Claim identity or be affiliated with non-SCA individuals who we consider important enough to protect; same standards as for conflict
•	Be offensive to a modern audience; the standards are quite high