Woman turns interest in names into business, now charges up to Rs 26 lakh to help parents name babies

Demand for her services increased following a 2021 feature in The New Yorker.

A consultant based in San Francisco developed a niche business advising parents on baby names, with services that cost as much as $30,000 (approximately Rs 26.61 lakh), according to a report by the New York Post.

Taylor A Humphrey began sharing her interest in names online around a decade ago, eventually turning it into a full-time occupation. She has accumulated more than 100,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram and said she has helped choose names for more than 500 children.

Her professional background included work in branding, marketing and doula training. Humphrey described herself as a “name nerd” and explained that her process relied on detailed questionnaires designed to identify a family’s preferences.

She structures her services on a tiered basis. The least expensive option is priced at $200 and involves providing an emailed list of personalised suggestions. At the other end of the scale, packages costing up to $30,000 include genealogical research and what she terms baby name branding.

Humphrey said her work extended beyond providing a list of names. “I had to come to terms with the fact that people often find me through content that pokes fun at me,” she told the Post. “I accept it because I believe the work I’m doing is really important.”

She added that consultations often required her to take on roles similar to a mediator or therapist. Her clients ranged from wealthy individuals who chose to remain anonymous to well-known public figures, with many describing the decision on a name as a significant choice.

Demand for her services increased following a 2021 feature in The New Yorker, which Humphrey said enabled her to raise fees and expand her business, despite some critical responses online.

Reflecting on the scrutiny, she said: “It’s a little embarrassing when you get made fun of on the internet. But at the same time, I’m like, ‘Well, it is silly.’ I come up with baby names for a living.”