Taylor Humphrey.Photo: Courtesy Taylor Humphrey
Although naming babies for a living may sound simple enough, Taylor A. Humphrey says there’s more to her job than folks assume.
Humphrey, a 33-year-old N.Y.U. graduate, helped name over 100 children last year, according to a recent profile inThe New Yorker.
She also works as a doula and offers Reiki sessions.
When it comes to finding the perfect name, Humphrey says that she believes all parents “already know” what to pick, but sometimes they just need a little help.
“While it’s easy to say that I name people’s babies for a living, my work is so much deeper and more nuanced than that,” she tells PEOPLE. “My job is to hold space, and provide spiritual, emotional, and physical support for my clients as they progress through the major life transition of becoming a parent.”
“While I offer name expertise, my work centers on supporting the expectant parent and leading them back to their inner place of wisdom and intuition,” she adds. “I have built my business on the premise that parents already know the right answer; sometimes they just need a bit of guidance to remember and access the knowledge that already exists inside of them.”
Taylor Humphrey.Courtesy Taylor Humphrey
One common reason why parents seek out her services is because they’ve already exhausted their options.
“I have a lot of families for whom this is their third or fourth kid, and they’re, like, ‘We’re out of names,’ " she toldThe New Yorker.
“Stellan is a great alternative to Soren. I think of shooting stars.” she said, per the profile. However, the client ultimately chose against it, as the name sounded “a lot like Stalin,” in their opinion.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
As for her two dream clients, Humphrey tells PEOPLE she’d love to work withBritney SpearsandElon Musk.
“The world stopped dead in its tracks when Elon announced his son’s name:X Æ A-12. And then again when he andGrimeswelcomed their daughter,Exa Dark Sideræl,” she shares.
Even though the names generated plenty of critical opinions, Humphrey says the monikers “are actually amazing” choices, representing “the pinnacle of thoughtfulness and creativity.”
“Remember: what makes a good name is not your opinion of that name,” she adds, “but how well it suits the child who bears it.”
source: people.com
