Latest news with #ColleenSlagen
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Professional Baby Name Consultant Is Begging Parents To Stop Using These 2 Names
A Professional Baby Name Consultant Is Begging Parents To Stop Using These 2 Names originally appeared on Parade. When you're expecting, it's normal to pore over countless books and lists of names for your little bundle of joy. And inspiration can be anywhere you look—including old men and old ladies, colors, religion and more. However, one baby naming expert is begging parents to actually stop using two names, in baby name consultant, social media personality and author of Naming Bebe (released June 10) Colleen Slagen, AKA @NamingBebe, went from utilizing her skills and passion as a "lifelong hobby imposed upon my loved ones" to offering personalized baby name consults full time starting in 2023. With plenty of viral videos on TikTok, Slagen is known for sharing her baby-naming tips and opinions online—and from discussing "new mom names" to commenting on monikers related to pop culture (like The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives), it's easy to see why she's become such a sensation. Now, she's revealing which two specific names to avoid in 2025, what general baby naming trends she's not a fan of, and how to tell if you might benefit from using a name "I want to disclaim this because I really do like both of these names—they're popular for a reason," Slagen begins telling Parade. "But being in this job I can't help but try and push people to find a name other than Olivia and Liam (the #1 boy and girl names)." It makes sense that she'd encourage parents to think outside the box."I think it's so fun to try and find alternatives that parents could embrace if they keep an open mind," she continues. "The best way to change someone's mind about a name is a positive association. Of course, we're more likely to have a positive association with popular names so it's a positive feedback cycle."That being said, she has some suggestions for parents who are leaning toward Olivia and Liam."Alternatives can be names that have similar sounds, like Violet, Sylvia, Ophelia, Lydia, Olive or Vivian for Olivia," she explains. "Or names that have a similar style—other elegant, feminine names like Margot, Daphne, Juliet, Leona, Hollis.""For Liam, there are a lot of similar names that are also quite popular; Leo, Levi, Luca," she continues. "I love Cian as a Celtic alternative that is much less common, or Callum for something that's a bit more mainstream."Related: "I almost never support alternative, less common spellings," Slagen reveals. "There are some exceptions to that statement! But for example, spelling Peyton 'Peytyn' to make it appear more unique or feminine. Even when traditionally masculine names are being used for a girl, which is a big trend right now, I prefer their traditional spelling." "It's hard to dislike any of the top, top names; they became popular for a reason and familiarity breeds likeness," Slagen admits. However, "I tend to go Marie Kondo on names that feel like they're heavily trending (rapid rises in popularity over a short time period); thank you for the memories, goodbye," she tells Parade. One recent trend that has legitimately shocked Slagen? "The super macho word names like Crash, Danger and Ryatt," she shares. "Kids can make a name their own no matter what it is, but these names do feel a bit prophetic." Related: According to Slagen, these are some common signs you might benefit from using a professional baby name consultant: "Difficulty agreeing with a partner Creativity rut (I've looked through SO many name lists/books and nothing sticks out to me!) Outside opinion: people who want to get a gut check/analysis of their top contenders without discussing with friends and family Finding a name that is cohesive with sibling(s) names Finding a name with a particular meaning Fun! Talking about baby names and hearing what someone else thinks fits your style is such a fun experience for people." Up Next:Colleen Slagen, AKA @NamingBebe, professional baby name consultant, social media personality and author of Naming Bebe (released June 10) A Professional Baby Name Consultant Is Begging Parents To Stop Using These 2 Names first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I'm a naming consultant, and sibling set names are hot right now. Here's what I recommend — and when to change course.
Colleen Slagen is a mom of three and a name consultant. She said social media has increased the emphasis on sibling sets. Themes and styles can guide name selection, but going too similar can be cheesy, she says. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Colleen Slagen, author of "Naming Bebe: An interactive guide to choosing a baby name you love." It has been edited for length and clarity. The idea of giving siblings matching names isn't anything new, but social media has helped the idea spread far and wide. As a name consultant who's active on Instagram and TikTok, I hear from lots of parents who are concerned about creating a perfect sibling set of names. Parents believe names can create family cohesion and unity. Creating a sibling set can be fun but can also create stress for parents. Here's what to think of when you're creating a sibling set, and how to know when to change course — which is something I had to do while naming my own three children. I worked with a mother who intensely regretted one of her children's names. It wasn't that she didn't like the name — she just didn't think it matched with the names of her other children. She was even considering changing her child's name. I reminded her that a sibling set of names isn't the end-all-be-all. Our children are going to spend most of their lives existing independent of their sibling set. I never want parents to get too caught up in how cohesive their children's names are. The easiest way to create a sibling set of names is to think about a style category of names that you like. If you're into classic names like John, they'll always go well with other classics, like Dorothy. Or, you can focus on name meanings. Nature-inspired names like Sky and Juniper can make good sibling sets, for example. Another option is to think about length. I find that four-letter names often go well together. At the same time, it's OK to put together short and long names if they have a similar style. I love the sibling set Ada and Bernadette, for example. When I worked with baby company JoJo Maman Bébé on the do's and don'ts of sibling sets, I reminded parents that subtlety goes a long way. If your theme is too niche, it can come across as cheesy. I would never name sisters Goldie, Violet, and Scarlett, or brothers Bear and Fox — that's a little too on the nose for me. The same can happen with names that sound too similar, like Banks and Brooks, or Adeline and Caroline. If there are multiple letters shared between the names, they may be too close. I named my oldest child Rory, envisioning a sibling set of traditional Irish names. But as I got to know more kids and families in my hometown outside Boston, I realized that the Irish names I liked were too common for my taste. So, I pivoted to more traditional English names and now have Rory, Janie, and George. I see that parents are very concerned about equality in naming and worry about a child feeling left out. That thinking can box parents into a specific naming pattern. If you start with two J names, you might find yourself following in the Duggar's footsteps and giving all your children J monikers. But remember, you're not obligated to continue any patterns, and personally I don't think your children will mind. Thinking about a sibling set can help guide you as you pick a name for your second, third, or sixth child. Yet occasionally, you'll discover a name that's just right for your new addition — even if it doesn't match their siblings. I see this a lot with celebrities. Actor Ashley Tinsdale, for example, has two daughters named Jupiter (which feels hyper-modern, majestic, and rare) and Emerson (which is much more mainstream). Sometimes, you can't fight the name that feels right. Read the original article on Business Insider
