Why do Some Families Hire a Baby Name Consultant?

Overwhelmed

In addition to being overwhelmed with too many name options, some moms-to-be, while already more vulnerable, are overwhelmed with work, managing the family and home, and all the other aspects of the pregnancy journey.

Partner Conflict

This is where partners cannot agree on the name so as a method of conflict resolution, they connect with me to get feedback on the names they like, or agree to use one of my recommendations.

Name Regret

This occurs when the baby has already been named and down the line the parents see something about the name that they didn’t notice before or they change their minds and don’t like the name anymore.

Busy lifestyle

Not everyone has time to dig through haystacks of name lists for the needle of a name they want. Busy parents connect with me for a concise list of recommendations to choose from, saving precious time.

Baby Shower Gifts / Fun

Lots of grandparents and aunties-to-be contact me for name consultations for their loved one as a gift. They enjoy reviewing the name recommendations together as a family.

Seeking the Advice of an Impartial Expert

Not everyone is confident in their ability to choose a sensible name that will stand the test of time so they seek my support because I am not emotionally invested in their family and can offer impartial expertise on names the parents like.

To Enjoy an Experience Tailored to their Interests and Preferences

Who doesn’t like a full-service personalized experience? Moms-to-be deserve to be pampered and this feeling is achieved when they receive a list of name recommendations that has been customized to them by an expert.

"You're a Grifter!"

Some of the Many Criticisms of BNC Include:

“What? People can’t even name their own kids now?”
“Since when is this a job?”,
“In my day these things weren’t so complicated”
“This is a scam, fraud, or grifting”
“Who would pay for this?”

In my experience, this criticism stems from the cultural expectation of mothers to just know everything. That mother’s intuition automatically enables moms to just know what to name their babies, how to breastfeed, calm colic, and everything there is to know about pregnancy and childcare. This is a dangerous myth that places an unhealthy amount of pressure on already vulnerable moms-to-be. The truth is that moms don’t just know everything, in fact, their knowledge is decreasing over time. Many Millennial and Gen Z moms have no younger siblings, and did not babysit or participate in childcare when they were young, the way more Gen X and Boomer moms did. This generational shift in maternal experience has resulted in moms-to-be experiencing record levels of stress and anxiety around this journey. Millennial and Gen Z women are also very busy with work and/or caring for older children. They run low on the time and energy required to research endless name options.

Luckily this has been recognized and there are increased options of professionals and services to support moms and families. These days families can utilize name consultants, night nurses, sleep consultants, home baby-proofers, financial planning for babies and more. The world has changed, and families can rest assured that there are so many support options.

Using a name consultant does not suggest that families are incapable of naming their baby, rather that they enjoy the elite service, and personalized recommendations that cannot be achieved by browsing for names online.

Some Concerns from Parents-to-be Include

- We don’t want to make a mistake and choose a bad name
- What if we don’t notice something about the name, and want to change it later?
- What if the child doesn’t like the name when they grow up?
- What if the child’s name is mocked by their peers
- Full version or the nickname?
- Traditional or trendy?
- Long, medium or short?
- We like this name, but it doesn’t fit with the surname or a sibling’s name
- To rhyme or not to rhyme (for multiples)?
- Should we use a middle name, if so, how many?
- Pressure to use a family name

Choosing a name for your child is a huge responsibility. Many parents want to exercise their own creativity and interests with names but have trouble balancing that with realistic options that are timeless and appropriate. Having an impartial professional review your choices, or make recommendations lifts some of that weight off your shoulders and provides confidence that your child will end up with a superb name that fits your creative vibe.