- Name consultant Steph Coffield charges people up to $700 for advice on what to call their baby.
- She interprets records and trends to predict how common a name might be when the child is older.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Steph Coffield, 40, of Minnesota. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I always put a lot of thought into the names I chose for my toys as a child. I liked Samantha and Molly because they were American Girl doll names. I read Nancy Drew and was inspired by the characters in the books.
A decade ago, when my husband, Iain, and I got pregnant with our first child, I became obsessed with finding the right name for our son.
Iain is from Scotland, and I have Scandinavian heritage.
I wanted to choose something unique for the US, and Iain wanted something that sounded traditional in his country. We came up with Euan as a happy medium.
Two years later, we named our second son Fitz because it has special significance to both sides of our family. Our daughter, Orianna, now eight, was partly named after the main character in one of Iain's favorite video games, "Ori and The Blind Forest."
I established my name consultancy in 2020
After my third was born, I started posting videos on YouTube about topics like birth empowerment and how to talk to care providers. I'd wear a fake pregnancy bump as a joke.
One day, I talked about my passion for unusual baby names and made a video of my research tips and findings. It blew up and became a weekly thing with themes such as florals, names inspired by vintage fashion, and names of different syllables.
It turned into a business in the fall of 2020 when people asked for suggestions that complemented their last names, began with certain letters, and would hopefully empower their kids to be independent and unique.
I offer four tiers of service that cost between $30 and $700. My clients complete questionnaires so I can get a full picture of the kind of names they're looking for — or want to rule out completely.
People are asking for suggestions for Halloween-inspired names
The budget option has a 24-hour turnaround and offers five name suggestions. The most expensive service last three months and covers three private video calls, unlimited name suggestions, and a personalized name certificate.
I typically work 30 hours a week, fitting my schedule around my children's needs. I use data from the Social Security Administration to calculate popularity ratings. Parents' most common question is the likelihood of their kids having the same name as others in their peer group.
Another big part of the job is analyzing trends. Many people still want surnames as first names. They'll choose something like Miller, Monroe, Sawyer, or Spencer.
Younger parents have recently asked for names with a country and Western vibe. Names like Hadley, Everly, and Wyatt. There's something about them that feels warm and cozy.
Heading into the Halloween season, people are also starting to want dark or gothic-inspired names. I've recently suggested Lilith, Jet, Lucian, Desdemona, and Bellatrix.
Picking a name that you love is more important than following tradition
I'm a huge fan of gender-neutral names. My clients love to give their daughters names like Teagan and Fallon.
I also believe that names don't have "an age." Parents will say, "I can't picture a little baby Carl or a little baby Ethel, just an old man Carl or an old lady Ethel."
I'll encourage them to think again. All those adults called Otis, Stanley or Pearl were babies once. If you introduce a newborn as Walter, people will melt.
There is a lot of name regret out there. To avoid it, I tell people that picking a name you love is more important than following family tradition or selecting one you think is "normal."
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