NAMES MATTER.
A name is not a label.
A name is a foundation.
When you bestow a name upon a person, you paint the recipient in a permanent wash of color. Names add meaning, flavor, and lore to a new human automatically, and build the foundations and first impressions that will follow.
Names are a self-fulfilling prophecy, a symbolism you wear on your sleeve, and while we always have the freedom to change, they’re essentially forever.
Our names follow us, precede us, illuminate us, betray us, and represent us whether we’re in the room or not.
Don’t leave naming up to chance, or even choice.
There’s a linguistic, genealogical, and symbolic science at play. It’s sophisticated, soulful, and sacred.
Choose a name. Craft a story.
What kind of story do you want this name to tell? How can you choose this name to be in service to the person using it? What can we do to make sure your preferences are aligned as parents and that they’re reflected in the final choice you make? What can we dream on behalf of this name?
There are so many factors to consider.
When choosing a name, you’ll want to think about all the places that a name will occupy. How does it read? How does it sound? How does it feel to say? How does it spell out? What does it mean? Who does it honor? What does it suggest?
CONSIDER THE PAST & THE FUTURE
What ancestry or lineage are we honoring with this name? What kind of future do we envision and how will this name carry forth into that future?
CONSIDER THE SOUND & THE SPELLING
Names are used in writing and in conversation. Consider how the name feels to pronounce, how it feels to spell and write, how it looks on the page, how it sounds being spoken. Consider how the name will fall to the senses.
CONSIDER THE CONTEXT & THE COMPANY
Contextualize this name among the other names in your family (or under your brand). Make sure siblings match, that cousins aren’t duplicated, and that the name fits intentionally (or rebels thoughtfully) against the trends and expectations around it.
CONSIDER THE MEANING & THE STORY
When we consider the entity we’re naming — a new baby, a book character, a brand name — we must also consider what story we want them to carry, and how the name fulfills and supports the story. We also have to face the potential changes a story might undergo, and choose a name that leaves space for change.
How Name Consulting Works:
The NYM program is a powerful, in-depth process that takes 3-5 weeks.
You’ll complete a thoughtful intake form to apply. Once accepted and paid, the program is completed in three meetings or phone calls, with some light take-home exercises in between.
1. APPLY FOR SERVICE
Our application is intentionally comprehensive. We’re careful to ask as many questions as possible to ensure you’re a fit for the program.
We use this information to customize your naming plan. Every client gets a unique plan to match your needs and goals.
2. MEETINGS + HOMEWORK
The program can be conducted by phone, on a Google Meet call, OR via email and chat. You choose at signup.
It usually takes about 3-5 weeks to get through everything we need to do!
There will be meaningful exercises for you and your partner, family, or group to discuss and work through.
I will be your concierge throughout every step of the process.
3. FINALIZE YOUR NAME
In phase 1, we will conduct a discovery and brainstorm together.
I’ll guide you through questions and exercises.
In phase 2, I will present an initial list of names which you will refine, react to, and provide feedback on. (This is a guided process, too!)
In phase 3, we refine your list down to 3-5 finalists and I’ll give you the tools to make your final decision confidently.
ABOUT THE CONSULTANT
Meet Kayla:
Naming expert, linguist, brand consultant & spiritualist
I have two degrees in education and in English linguistics. My career has spanned education, brand strategy, spiritual services, personal development services, writing, poetry, and art.
I’m successful in each area because of an overlapping qualities like communication & language command, empathy and humanism, adaptability, and creative intuition. Each of my experiences has given me new skills and exposed new nuances in naming, writing, and language-making.
I’m also a legacy, senior member of the Nameberry community and have an obsession with names, identities, souls, spirits, and “the self.” I’m passionate about how words evolve and change over time, how and why we choose names and words the way we do, and what this all means for the identity and soul beneath.
What are you waiting for?
This process only takes 3-5 weeks to complete with me, but you may want several weeks after to evaluate your options and explore the possibilities.
If you’re curious about the process, apply!
Your application does not obligate you to any service or payment — but will put you into my system so I can answer any questions and help you decide if this process is right for you.
I look forward to learning all about you and helping you find the name you’re searching for.