Baby Naming Consultation Services Help Expecting Parents Find (And Agree On) A Name for Their Baby for a Surprisingly Low Price!

Service Review: The Art of Naming – A Personalized Baby Naming Experience

by: Fiona Kerrington

September 2024

Naming a baby is one of the most significant decisions new parents face. From balancing family traditions to finding a name that feels right for the future, the process can feel overwhelming. 

Enter The Art of Naming, a baby-naming service that has been helping parents find the perfect name since 2013. As someone who recently experienced this service, I’m eager to share how this expert-driven approach can bring clarity and confidence to the baby-naming journey.

What is The Art of Naming?

The Art of Naming is designed to help parents who may be struggling to choose a baby name. Whether it’s finding a name that fits with your last name, needing a fresh perspective, or finding a balance between personal preferences and family influences, this service has you covered. With a detailed, thoughtful process, the expert behind the service offers personalized recommendations tailored to your needs.

Who is the Expert Naming Consultant? 

The expert behind The Art of Naming is Kara Jones, and she has been passionate about names for as long as she can remember. As a mother who has named three humans herself, she has personally experienced the joys and challenges of naming children. Since launching her blog and naming services in 2013, she has helped over 50 parents find the perfect name, earning glowing testimonials and even repeat clients. With professional writing experience on Nameberry.com and connections with some of the most renowned baby namers in the world, her expertise is highly sought after in the baby-naming community. 

Though she took a hiatus from the website for a few years after going through a divorce and losing access to her original site data, she’s bounced back stronger. Despite these challenges, her passion for names never waned, and she is fully equipped with fresh insights and qualifications to help others find the perfect name for their little ones.

Here’s a snapshot of what they can help with:

- Finding names that pair well with your surname

- Narrowing down options to help parents reach an agreement

- Offering fresh suggestions if you’re stuck in a rut

- Advising on name regrets and offering new options if needed

The Process and What to Expect

When you sign up for The Art of Naming, you fill out a detailed questionnaire that dives deep into your naming preferences and challenges. The more information you provide, the better the name suggestions will be. Here’s a breakdown of the key questions:

- Gender preference: Are you looking for boy names, girl names, or both because the gender is unknown? Or do you prefer something unisex that could work for either gender?

- Surname considerations: What will the baby’s last name be, or how does it sound phonetically? This helps ensure the names flow well together.

- Naming challenges: What issues are you facing? Maybe you can’t agree on a name with your partner, or perhaps all the names you love don’t match the last name.

- Current considerations: Which names have you already thought about? Do you have some front-runners, or are they unusable for some reason? Knowing this helps the expert refine suggestions.

- Middle name ideas: Do you have a middle name in mind, or any family names you want to include? This helps create meaningful combinations.

- Specific requirements: Do you have any specific criteria? For example, “The name must start with ‘A’ or have three syllables” or “We’d like the name to not end in ‘N.’”

- Sibling names: If this isn’t your first child, do you want the name to match the style of their siblings or be distinct? How important is that to you?

- Style and origin: Are you drawn to vintage names, nature-inspired names, or something with cultural significance? Do name meanings matter to you? Do you and your partner come from different ethnicities and need help finding a name that works for both sides of the family?

- Popularity preferences: How popular do you want the name to be? Options range from “very popular” (Top 100) to “unusual/rare” (not in the Top 1000).

The questionnaire is designed to capture every aspect of your naming preferences, making sure the suggestions are truly tailored to your situation.

What You Get

Once you submit the form, The Art of Naming works on a personalized name list for you. Here’s what you’ll receive:

1. Name assessment: A review of the names you’re already considering, with thoughts on how they fit your criteria and flow with the last name.

2. Customized list: Additional names tailored to your preferences, with a mix of fresh ideas and hidden gems you might not have considered.

3. First and middle name combinations: Suggestions that flow well with your last name, giving you a comprehensive outlook.

4. Top 10 picks: The expert’s personal favorites for you, which are designed to match your style, requirements, and vision.

5. Unlimited email communication: The service doesn’t end after the first list—you can go back and forth via email until you’re confident with your choice.

My Experience

The questionnaire itself was incredibly thorough. After submitting it, I felt confident that the expert had all the information needed to provide tailored suggestions. They really took into account everything we shared—from our surname to our preference for uncommon names with a vintage touch. 

The name suggestions felt personal, thoughtful, and aligned with our style. We even received creative first and middle name pairings we hadn’t thought of. The expert also reassured us that we could take our time—having unlimited email communication meant we didn’t feel rushed to decide right away. The support was consistent throughout the process, and we felt genuinely heard.

Final Thoughts

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed with baby names, The Art of Naming offers a well-organized, deeply personalized service. It’s reasonably priced at only $40, and you get expert-level attention and care in finding the perfect name for your baby. From thoughtful combinations to new ideas, this service takes the guesswork out of the process.

Verdict: Highly recommended!

The Art of Naming brings expertise, creativity, and a personal touch that transforms a stressful decision into an enjoyable experience. Whether you’re just starting the name search or need help refining your options, this service can help you find that perfect name with confidence.

Get started by filling out their questionnaire and discover the perfect name for your little one today!

To Honor or Not to Honor: 7 Instances When You Should NOT Use a Family Name

For many years all around the world, it was the norm to hand names down generation after generation. In many cultures, it was traditional to use family names. Sometimes there were even patterns laid out for determining which child gets which relative's name.

Times have changed a bit but even modern parents find themselves considering whether or not they'll honor a relative.

There are times when the honoree is a wonderful role model for the child and passing down their name is natural for the parents. The child gets the chance to feel a connection to their family's past and no doubt that honored relative is thrilled!

However, there are other instances when honoring someone just doesn't feel right. How do you know when you should and when you shouldn't honor a relative? It isn't easy when familial pressure sets in, especially when there are traditions in place that you're expected to follow like if your husband is the fourth, do you have to make your son the fifth or could you break tradition?

I previously described how you could honor a relative even if you hate their name, but this article will help you figure out if you should even bother trying to honor someone at all.

Here are a few reasons why you should NOT use a family name for your child:

Because... it's just... ugly...

You've tried to find a way to twist your relative's terrible name around to become something beautiful but no matter what you try, you still cannot find something that you love that would still honor that person. Now what?

Well, there are some names that are just too odd, unattractive or out-of-fashion to consider. It isn't a bad thing to dislike them. Some names may end up being burdensome on a modern child. It is okay to avoid those ones even if it means that you won't be honoring anyone.

If you were to really discuss this with your relatives, you may be surprised to find that they may agree with your decision to skip using Grandma Bertha's name. Don't fret!

Because they don't even like it...

Imagine that you've decided to name your daughter after your mother. When you tell her about it, you're surprised at her negative reaction and she urges you not to do that because she has always hated her own name. You try to explain your reasons but she stands firmly against having a namesake.

Ouch. What can you do?  Since you clearly don't have her blessing on using her name, it may be best to respect her wishes and find another name.  Perhaps mom has a few good ideas and you can involve her in the naming process another way.

Because you only like the one...

You've always loved your grandmother Alice's name and for as long as you can remember you've planned on naming a daughter after her. However, your other grandmother's name is Eunice and your husband's grandmothers are Alberta and Gladys. You love these women just as much as Grandma Alice but you don't quite love their names as much.

Is it better to skip using Alice in order to avoid feeling obligated to consider the names of the other grandmothers? After all, you only love that one name and you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by seemingly choosing favorites.

Think about how your family would react. If they wouldn't mind that you only use the one name, great! If aunts and uncles start casting in votes for their own names too, perhaps it's time to reconsider.

Because you don't... get along...

Typically when you decide to use a family name, it is because you love and respect that relative and want to honor them in this special way. Unfortunately, some families just don't get along due to private issues like dysfunction or various painful circumstances.

It stands to reason that if you've never been very close to your family, you probably wouldn't consider naming a child after them.  If this is the case, it's probably best to avoid using an honor name and choose something that would instead bring love and happiness to your new little family.

Because it's hard to be fair... 

You crave symmetry and fairness. If you use a name from your side, you feel obligated to use a name from your partner's side for the next child. You've had your heart set on naming your first son after your grandfather but when you began to ponder names for a future baby #2, you realized that your partner's side of the family doesn't have any decent options that aren't already taken.

The only name you could see yourself settling for belongs to a relative that really gets on your nerves and you don't want your child named after them.  You've searched through middle names, nicknames, maiden names and still you're coming up short.  At this point, it might be better to avoid family names altogether so there are no hurt feelings on either side and you won't end up settling.

Because you want to choose what you want to choose...

There comes a point when relatives begin to offer their ideas about what the baby should be called. There may be old family traditions in place that you're expected to follow and these are never easy to sidestep. It doesn't help that your sister already gave in and named her daughter after your grandmother. Now all eyes are on you.

You wrestle with the idea but you really don't want to follow suit. This is your baby and you want to name it whatever you want! It may be hard to take a stand against tradition and familial expectations but you'll regret it more if you don't.

Because it just doesn't feel right...

You've somehow ended up agreeing on making your son a junior after your husband. At the time, you were happy that your husband was happy but now you're not so sure. Something about it just doesn't feel right. You feel like you're just clicking copy and paste rather than actually giving a name to your child.

Now is the time to speak up. If the name that has been chosen doesn't settle right with you, you can absolutely say something and work toward a compromise that will make you and your partner happy. It is your child! You deserve to love the name you choose!

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Have you encountered any issues during your own naming processes? Were you expected to honor a relative? Why did you decide against it? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Baby Naming 101: Spell It Right!

In the never-ending quest to be unique, some parents today think the best way to do that is to use "kreeaytiv" spellings. I'm going to flat-out say it: spelling a name incorrectly is not cute.  Yes, I'm calling it "incorrect" not "creative."

If you think I'm being harsh, I apologize, but I know that many of my fellow name-bloggers would back me up on this.

Professor Kara is in the classroom.

Ponder for a minute. What are you doing to your child? Yes, it might seem cute to see a baby named Braylynn or Kaedynn, but what happens when they grow up and need to apply for a professional job? There are people who argue that a name should have nothing to do with their intelligence and credentials for said job, but could you really imagine the President of the United States being named Aiedynn Kristhian Smith when Aidan Christian Smith would be so much nicer?

Imagine 50-60 years from now when a whole new flock of babies are being born (hopefully with some really great vintage names, if this cranky old lady has a say), and the children of the 2010s are brand-new grandparents.  "Let's go to Grandpa Leeum and Grandma Abygayle's house!"  Liam and Abigail are wonderful names in and of themselves, but they're not so wonderful with those unnecessarily complicated spellings.

Keep in mind that these are real spellings from real babies born in 2012. I'm not just making these up!

While I understand that we are free to express ourselves any way we want through our children's names, I only wish it would be taken more seriously.

Misspelling a name is not cute. It does not automatically make the child unique from his peers. Considering that names are used verbally so often, the "unique" Klohie really is no different than all of the girls named Chloe. The difference is that Klohie will have issues for the rest of her life having to spell it to everyone she meets, and all of the Chloes won't.

Even more confusing than that are the following real misspelled names. Some of them don't even seem like a name! See if you can guess what it is supposed to be:

Boys:  

Celebrating 60 wonderful years together:
Rhyley Jaxxyn Miller and his lovely
wife Serynity Kaydynse Miller.

Nope, sorry, I refuse to picture it!

Izaiya
Koltynn
Graisyn
Zakori
Jysaiah
Kuper
Shaughn
Markeise
Sylys
Jailon
Icker
Daviyon
Kamaury
Khyri
Jaxsten
Akiles

Girls:

Awbree
Madylyn
Kleigh
Aerionna
Mikaelah
Miaya
Juliyanna
Skarlet
Lundynn
Jenesys
Trenidy
Jizel
Kynzley
Preslea
Deissy

Personally, I'd rather be unique by finding names that are actually rarely used. Its even better when they have a history behind them and one or two standard spellings.

There are many wonderful names that don't even rank in the Top 1000 like:

Minerva #3936
Eugenia  #4492
Andromeda #4565
Augusta #4693
Eloisa #4844
Helene #3851
Bryony #8661

Leopold #2184
Benedict #1736
Amadeus #2431
Viggo  #3680
Richmond #3952
Indiana #4032
Ewan #1245

I could go on and on. I'd much prefer these rarely used names to anything that has been tinkered with. Sophia will always be better than Sofeeya, even if it is the number one name in the country.

Above all else, remember that babies grow up to become a wide variety of people. What seems cute at the time may totally clash with who they become. For an extreme example (and some giggles) could you imagine this man named Braxxtyn or Gavynn or Loukas?

I would name him Isaac (not Izzak)

What do you think about this issue? Do you think it is fine that parents are running amok and refusing to use tried-and-true spellings? Do you think there should be some kind of baby-naming-movement that strongly, but lovingly, imposes correct spellings on new parents?  Where do YOU draw the line?

Let me know in the comment section below!

Mom-To-Mom: What Would You Name This Child?

Hello Moms and Name-Enthusiasts! Here is another baby-naming dilemma that could use a bit more input!  The mom-to-be is looking for the following:

• Girl name beginning with either W, P or Q. 
• Feminine but does NOT begin or end with a vowel.
• Avoid the Top 100 names.
• Longer first name with a one syllable middle name.
• Middle name cannot start with an A.
• The last name is also one syllable.

Right now, the priority is to find a name that ends with a consonant sound that mom and dad can agree on. Their naming styles seems to differ. He likes common and classic whereas she is a bit more adventurous.  They have two children with somewhat classic names, but she is not concerned at all about finding a name to "match".

Liked names:
Quinn
Gwen
Willow (despite vowel ending)
Pippa  (despite vowel ending)
Whitney

What other names would you suggest? I've sent plenty of options and am waiting for another reply once she has a chance to talk with her husband but I thought I'd open this up to all of you name-lovers and see what ideas we can compile for her!

Thanks!

P.S. If you have a baby naming dilemma too, check out this page.