The Art and Science of Naming a Baby
Choosing a baby’s name is one of the most personal and significant decisions parents make. It carries weight, not just for the child but for the entire family. For many, this task can feel overwhelming, especially with the pressure to find something unique yet familiar, meaningful but not too unusual. This challenge has led some parents to seek help from professionals like Colleen Slagen, a name consultant based in Austin, Texas.
Slagen offers premium consultations that include a video call, feedback on a list of names, a curated list of 10 names with commentary, and additional honorable mention options. Her services range from $85 to $500, depending on the level of assistance needed. With over 73,000 followers on TikTok, she shares her insights and expertise with a growing audience. She explains that her process involves asking clients detailed questions to understand their preferences, criteria, and goals. Then, she compiles a consultation document filled with ideas and explanations.
Lately, some of her clients have mentioned using ChatGPT, an AI tool, to generate baby names. While ChatGPT can provide quick suggestions for free, many users report that it lacks the personal touch and emotional depth that a human consultant can offer. “It’s a fun tool,” Slagen says, “but it’s impersonal. People want to work with someone they trust.”
For modern parents, the pressure to choose the perfect name can be suffocating. There’s a delicate balance between being original and avoiding something too unique. Additionally, the permanence of a name adds to the stress. Slagen notes that while AI can generate ideas, it cannot alleviate the emotional weight of the decision. “Getting feedback from a computer doesn’t necessarily ease that feeling,” she says. “You want a real person’s opinion.”
Slagen acknowledges that not everyone can afford or wants to invest in a professional consultation. For those seeking alternatives, she suggests traditional baby name books, which can provide inspiration and guidance without the cost.
To test ChatGPT’s naming capabilities, I asked for girl names that aren’t too popular. The AI returned 24 names across four categories, including nature-inspired, literary, whimsical, and international names. When I requested names starting with “A,” it provided 25 options, such as Alma, Ayla, and Ariadne. However, none of these names resonated with me as genuine choices.
Phoebee Linford, a 30-year-old mother in Utah, shared a similar experience. When she and her husband were struggling to choose a middle name for their son, Matthew, they turned to ChatGPT. One of the suggestions was Matthew Benjamin, which they ultimately chose. “It’s a good, sturdy name,” Linford says. “It gives him options if he doesn’t want to go by Matthew or Matt.” Though she found the idea of using AI for such a personal decision odd, she admits it made the process faster.
Em Kim, a name consultant based in Minneapolis with 352,000 followers on TikTok, agrees that choosing a baby name involves both logic and emotion. “Every person has a different balance of those,” she says. “I can see how ChatGPT can help with the logical side.”
Kim’s approach involves creating personalized videos for her clients, drawing from their social media profiles, tastes, and other children’s names. Through this process, she aims to find a name that feels right for each family. “Feeling understood is valuable,” she says. “It’s like a bride choosing a wedding dress—harder to have that emotional connection when your community is with a computer.”
