Full Idea
Causal theories of reference seem doomed to failure for the case of reference to mathematical entities, since such entities are evidently causally inert.
Gist of Idea
Mathematical entities are causally inert, so the causal theory of reference won't work for them
Source
Charles Chihara (A Structural Account of Mathematics [2004], 01.3)
Book Reference
Chihara,Charles: 'A Structural Account of Mathematics' [OUP 2004], p.16
A Reaction
Presumably you could baptise a fictional entity such as 'Polonius', and initiate a social causal chain, with a tradition of reference. You could baptise a baby in absentia.