Because it's a property of your tag, there needs to be a defined beginning and end, without quotes it just views the first word as your property value

In terms of

<select name="NameDropDown">

  <% foreach(var nameObject in Model.NameList)

    { %>

      <option value = <%: nameObject.NameCode %> > <%: nameObject.Fullname %> </option>

  <% }

%>

The same logic applies to the value property, but the nameObject.Fullname doesn't require quotes because it's between two tags :)