How do I batch generate PDF certificates from a list of names?

Design the certificate in Word, use Acrobat's mail-merge-to-PDF feature.

If you want to suggest features for Acrobat to Adobe, try here: Feature Request/Bug Report Form

Send a message to them directly, the only help you receive here is offers to purchase scripts.  This is such a common task that it should have already been integrated into the software. Try reaching out to them on social media.

What you're looking for is called a Mail Merge. Basically, you take a PDF file and add to it form fields to hold the dynamic values (like the name of the recipient), and a spreadsheet that contains all of the names, and use a script to merge the two, generating a unique copy of the form for each value in the list.

This can be done using some versions of the Adobe PDFMaker plugin for Office, or you can do it directly in Acrobat, using a script, like this one I've developed: Custom-made Adobe Scripts: Acrobat -- Mail Merge and Email PDF Files