How to attach a list of fields to an entity
There are a few possible solutions to what I believe you are asking:

Use a field collection.
http://drupal.org/project/field_collection

It allows you to create a field containing a few fields of information and attach those to a node. I think it is most likely what you are after.

A simple multi-value text field
The simplest option to attach a bunch of names to a node is just to set up a text field with unlimited values. Then you can add as many as you like. But I imagine that's simpler than what you need.

Taxonomy terms
If the values need to relate to each other across the site, use a term reference field with unlimited values and allow your users to create new terms on the fly when they don't exist already.

Content Type
If all of the names you need to add have additional data attached to them, you might need to go down the additional content type and node reference path you mention in your question.

I hope one of those ideas is what you after.