Full Idea
Intentions alone don't bring it about that a name gets a denotation; without the intention being manifest there cannot be the common knowledge required for the practice.
Gist of Idea
A private intention won't give a name a denotation; the practice needs it to be made public
Source
Gareth Evans (The Causal Theory of Names [1973], §II)
Book Reference
Evans,Gareth: 'Collected Papers' [OUP 1985], p.18
A Reaction
Well, I might have a private name for some hated colleague which I mutter to myself whenever I see her. The way names, and language generally, becomes ossified is by joining the great impersonal sea of the language. ..waves of bones,