The test isn't name recognition, it's WP:Notability.  We do not report our own personal opinions.  We don't have pages on subjects that seem important.  We have articles on subjects for which there are multiple WP:RELIABLE WP:INDEPENDENT WP:SECONDARY sources about the subject to establish not only that the subject seems notable but that others not connected to the subject have actually taken note and that they've done it in WP:RELIABLE sources with a reputation for fact-checking and editorial control.  If an individual is on this list, it should be because they're notable because that's the test we use and because it actually is objectively testable.  The simple way to enforce this, the same as with other WP lists, is to insist there must be an article.  Obviously, the fact the article exists doesn't guarantee the subject is notable (because people constantly create all kinds of spammy articles all the time), but we have a separate procedure, called WP:Articles for deletion for deleting articles on non-notable subjects.