Full Idea
It is better to say that 'For all x ("Hesperus" stands for x iff x = Hesperus)', than to say '"Hesperus" stands for Hesperus', since then the expression can be a name with no bearer (e.g. "Vulcan").
Gist of Idea
It is best to say that a name designates iff there is something for it to designate
Source
Mark Sainsbury (The Essence of Reference [2006], 18.2)
Book Reference
'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Language', ed/tr. Lepore,E/Smith,B [OUP 2008], p.400
A Reaction
In cases where it is unclear whether the name actually designates something, it seems desirable that the name is at least allowed to function semantically.