Please help me identify error in Indirect formula

If I type in a cell "=name_range_1" I get the data in name_range_1
If I type in a cell "=name_range_2" I get the data in name_range_2
If I type in a cell "=+name_range_1" I get the data in name_range_1
If I type in a cell "=name_range1+name_range_2" I get the two numbers added up. So far so good.

If I type in a cell "=indirect(A5)" and in A5 I type in  "=name_range_1" I get the data in name_range_1
BUT
If I type in a cell "=indirect(A5)" and in A5 I type in "=+name_range_1" I get a #REF! (just added a "+" at the start, as worked above
AND
If I type in a cell "=indirect(A5)" and in A5 I type in "=name_range_1+name_range2" I get a #REF! (just added a "+" at the start, as worked above)


Why does adding a "+" symbol mess up the indirect formula?
How can I fix this so I can add two or more ranges via the indirect method