Parents Are 'Paying Experts' To Find Names For Their Babies (And It Doesn't Come Cheap)

Baby name service has a hefty price tag.
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Some parents-to-be are so worried about choosing the perfect name for their baby that they're calling on the help of 'experts'. 

Brand agencies in America and Europe are now offering to help parents find a name for their child, for a fee.

According to Bloomberg, Switzerland-based naming agency Erfolgswelle will charge up to £20,000 ($29,000) to name one baby. Just one.

But rather than just finding a name and passing it on, Mark Hauser who runs the agency, will devote up to three weeks to research the name's history. 

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Kelly Sillaste via Getty Images

'My Name for Life', a company run by Sherri Suzanne in New York, has a similar aim.

Suzanne, who is a baby name consultant, will spend 30 hours on a single name report and prices start from "several hundred dollars", according to her website.

The website states: "My Name for Life is here to help you discover the attractive and memorable name meant just for your baby.

"You’ll find the patient, supportive assistance you need to pick the name your child will say and write proudly for the rest of his or her life."

The service describes itself as a "personal, private, no-pressure way of getting honest advice and wonderful name suggestions". 

Albert Mehrabian, a professor of psychology at the University of California-Los Angeles believes it is "worth every penny".

"Believe me, you don’t want to name a child with an unattractive name and have them go through life and suffer the consequences," he told Bloomberg.

"If you are getting somebody who really knows the evidence, then I’ll say it’s worth every penny, whether its $500 or $5,000."

There is, however, no information about where these "consultants" get their expertise from. 

Duana Taha, who writes the Name Nerd column on American website LaineyGossip.com, believes parents appreciate having a "complete stranger" giving advice.

Although Taha doesn't charge for consulting, she offers her opinion on celebrity baby names and said she receives letters from parents seeking guidance.

She previously told HuffPost Canada: "Parents really appreciate that there's somebody that's judging based only on the merits of the name and that they get to tell their story in its entirety without somebody saying you also have to pay tribute to Great-Aunt Margaret.

"It's not as simple as finding a name that is phonetically pleasing for a child.

"You also want to have a name that kind of signifies how you feel about them or how you want them to feel."

Siobhan Freegard, founder of video parenting site Channel Mum, isn't keen on the idea.

"Hiring a baby brander is solely for people with more money than sense," she told The Huffington Post UK.

"A baby's name should be personal and meaningful to the family - not plucked from a list by a person with no connection to the child.

"There is so much information available for free online that no one needs to pay a so-called expert for it.  

"The golden rule is if you're not sure on a name then don't choose it and keep looking.

"There are thousands of lovely names so choose the one that speaks to you and feels right for your child. You'll know when you've found it."

What do you think? Would you ever want help in naming your baby?

Retro Baby Names Making A Comeback
Aurelia(01 of08)
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Aurelia is the female form of the Roman classic Aurelius and was (unsurprisingly) most popular during the Roman Empire. The beautiful name is pronounced “Aw-REEL-ya” and means “the golden one.” According to Nameberry, Aurelia was one of the fastest-rising baby names in 2013 and in the following year, it broke the U.S. top 1,000 list to sit at number 832. (credit:Blend Images - Mike Kemp via Getty Images)
Emmett(02 of08)
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While the name Emmett is on rise for both genders in 2016, it’s actually starting to gain more popularity among girls. Emma and Emily have always been longtime favourites among parents, Emmett is a rare alternative with a fresh sound. While the name does seem masculine, Nameberry points out that some parents have added an “e” to the end to give the moniker a more feminine look and feel.The name originally peaked in popularity in the 1880s, but has gained a lot of attention in recent years. In 2014, Emmett was number 156 for boys, likely due to the craze of the “Twilight” series which featured a character with the same name. (credit:Thomas Northcut via Getty Images)
Ruby(03 of08)
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The name Ruby is very much a part of pop culture, which is likely why it’s experiencing a boost in popularity. Not only is the name found in music, such as the Rolling Stones’ song “Ruby Tuesday,” but also in film characters, such as Ruby (Renée Zellweger) in “Cold Mountain.” Ruby was highly popular between 1900 and 1936. During that time, the name was consistently in the top 50 list for girls. In 2013, Ruby finally cracked back into the top 100 list and the following year, sat at number 90. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)
Felix(04 of08)
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The name Felix can be dated back to the Bible, but the moniker didn’t hit its peak in popularity until 1910. Although the moniker has fallen off the charts since then, it’s quickly making a comeback thanks to its “x” ending, which gives it its cool factor. Felix, which means “happy and fortunate,” was number 267 for boys in 2014. (credit:Camille Tokerud via Getty Images)
June(05 of08)
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June is one of those names that seem more popular than it really is. In the 1920s, this moniker was incredibly common, but its popularity has died down quite a bit since then. June only cracked the top 1,000 again in 2008 and in 2014, it was number 317 for girls. Today, the moniker is gaining popularity among boys as well, since it is a variation of the Latin name Junius, meaning “born in June.” (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)
August(06 of08)
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Surprisingly, August was one of the top 100 U.S. baby names in the 1800s. Today, it’s gaining popularity among boys and girls because it’s unique without being too over-the-top. In 2014, the moniker sat at number 242 on the top U.S. baby name list for boys. Additionally, many celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Garth Brooks and Mariska Hargitay have kids with the name August, which only adds to the moniker’s recent popularity. (credit:Noah Clayton via Getty Images)
Hazel(07 of08)
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This trendy, old school name is making a comeback thanks to celebrities and pop culture. Back in 2004, Julia Roberts named one of her twins Hazel and in 2014, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski chose the same name for their daughter. The moniker also gained even more traction in 2014 after the YA novel “The Fault in Our Stars” was turned into a movie, since Hazel is the name of the book’s heroine. Hazel was highly popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Although it began to dip in the charts starting in the 1950s and onwards, the rise of nature names has also added to its sudden boost in popularity. (credit:Camille Tokerud via Getty Images)
Ava(08 of08)
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Ava is a prime example of how retro baby names can make a successful comeback. Believe it or not, Ava is an ancient name. The moniker was actually first popularized back in 845 (yes, you read that right!) by St. Ava, a woman who was cured of blindness and became a nun. Since then, the moniker’s popularity has tapered off, only to begin rising again in the late '90s. In the past few years, Ava has managed to remain on the top 10 baby name list for girls. (credit:sot via Getty Images)

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