When you’re pregnant, a handful of questions seem to pop up more than others. One of the top ones? “Do you have a name yet?” As I navigate this journey for the second time, my answer remains the same: “Not yet.” With my son, it was relatively easy. In our Jewish tradition, we honor loved ones by using the first letter of a deceased family member’s name. My son, Spencer, carries on that legacy, named for both our grandmothers named Sylvia. His middle name, Dylan, pays tribute to his grandfather, Doug.
For our second child, a girl, I want to honor my two grandfathers, Robert and Bernard. I’ve found myself drawn to gender neutral names, but my husband seems more of a traditionalist. Well, at least that’s my impression, as his responses have often boiled down to a simple “no” or “meh” for the names I toss his way.
As Instagram is always one step ahead of my needs, my feed recently exploded with tons of baby name posts. It was here I noticed a post from the account @whatsinababyname, run by Taylor A. Humphrey, a baby name consultant. As I dug deeper, I learned that baby name consulting is not just a trend but a seemingly legitimate profession. I decided to reach out to both Humphrey of What’s in a Baby Name and fellow consultant, Steph Coffield, of Names With Steph to get the scoop.
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Taylor A. Humphrey, Founder of What’s In A Baby Name
As a childbirth doula, reiki practitioner, and professional baby name consultant, Taylor support parents in the sacred process of baby naming. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, People, Romper, The New York Post, and her personal blog, What’s In A Baby Name. She has worked with thousands of parents to select the perfect name for their little ones.
Steph Coffield, Professional Name Consultant, Author, and Content Creator
Steph is a passionate name consultant with a flair for all things whimsical. From a young age, she has found herself captivated by the beauty and uniqueness of names and the stories they could tell. She has helped hundreds of soon-to-be parents with baby names, people looking for new first names, and even couples wanting a personalized surname.
What is a baby name consultant?
Simply put, a baby name consultant is a professional who helps expectant parents find the perfect name for their little one.
For both women, the job wasn’t something they necessarily sought out or even initially realized existed. They both have had a lifelong passion for names. Humphrey shared that “as a child, I learned to read or write by going to the library and checking out books on baby names.” Through social media, they began sharing their favorite names and advice, never anticipating the positive response that would come. Soon, people were turning to them with their naming challenges, transforming what began as a hobby into a fulfilling career.
How much does a baby name consultant cost? And what’s included?
Humphrey laughed when I asked about the sensational headline that certainly caught my eye, claiming she charges $30K to help desperate parents name their babies. “I jokingly say that is my Kardashian package. It’s working with celebrities, influencers, politicians—where there is going to be a public announcement.” In these cases, what she does is more akin to brand consulting, which makes sense to me. It no longer seemed outrageous.
The good news is, you don’t need to be uber wealthy to work with a baby name consultant. Both women offer a range of packages. Coffield’s “Name Bite” consultation is only $39 and offers her advice and feedback when couples already have their shortlist and just need that final input. Her most expensive offering, at $249, provides a personalized name list tailored to specific requests, whether that’s meaningful origins or multilingual considerations.
Humphrey’s offerings are a bit more comprehensive. “The Quick Take” for $200 provides a “gut check or fresh spark of inspiration.” Her “Support” package for $5K includes ongoing support throughout the perinatal period, Reiki sessions (which can be conducted remotely), and a birth debrief. In speaking with her, I saw she takes on many roles beyond consultant: Reiki master, numerologist, therapist, and coach. “I used to think it was my job to choose somebody else’s baby name. I thought my task was to act like an algorithm, to say, ‘if you like these names, then it’s probably going to be a name like this.’ But people don’t need that. They need help, they need guidance, feedback, and reassurance,” she explains.
Catering to each family’s needs
Both consultants kick off their work with clients by sending out questionnaires. This is to gauge their current progress with names. Do they have definite “nos”? Have they found their naming style? What vibes are they after (whimsical, trendy?) Are there any sibling names?
As a writer, I appreciated Humphreys’ approach, where she emphasizes the storytelling aspect of choosing a name. Some of the questions seem out of the box, but by understanding the parents’ preferences beyond just names, as well as their backstories, she can craft a more comprehensive picture of who the couple (or individual) is. “Your entire life is a story full of these proper nouns, so let’s pick some that resonate with you and your story.”
Advice to parents choosing a baby name
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with both consultants and appreciated their insights on my own naming conundrum. After our chats, I think we may have finally settled on our baby’s name—though I’ll keep that under wraps for now. Both consultants stood firm on this one piece of advice: Wait until your baby is born to announce their name. Once it’s out there, unsolicited opinions can roll in, and that’s the last thing anyone needs!
“Both consultants stood firm on this one piece of advice: Wait until your baby is born to announce their name.”
Both women recommend arriving at the hospital with a short list of two to three names and making the final decision once you meet your newborn. Name regret is real, and Humphrys has had several clients who reach out post-birth seeking help.
As for crafting that short list, Coffield suggests starting with identifying your naming style. Each partner should compile a list of their favorite names, swap them, and circle those they like. She emphasizes that honing in on how the first name and last name sound together is most important, since that is how the child will most often be addressed. Humphrey takes a similar approach with her clients; once she sends them her baby list, together they go through and label each one as “love,” “hate,” or “maybe.”
Humphrey raised another point for couples to consider: If one partner isn’t contributing and acting obstinate, it might not just be about the name. “Sometimes we’re having another battle. You want to make sure you are centering the child, and not your own ego. This is the first gift we are giving to our child. ”
Still feeling stumped? It might just be time to consider reaching out to a baby name consultant!
Dyana Lederman, Contributing Writer
Dyana is a lifestyle and travel journalist, creative writer, editor, and producer with 15+ years of experience. A soon-to-be mother of two, Dyana lives in Redondo Beach and loves to share stories and insights into parenting. In the past, she worked in television and podcasting, and her first children’s book, Chester Gets a Baby, debuted this summer.
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