A "name expert" helps parents pick monikers for their babies - and predicts 2023 trends will include gender neutral names and using surnames for first names.<br /><br />Colleen Slagen, 33, began offering parents consultations on names in January 2022 - following a lifelong "obsession" with baby names.<br /><br />She now receives up to five requests a day for consultations costing between $175 to $250.<br /><br />Colleen goes through a lengthy process in order to create a list of either eight or 16 names for her clients.<br /><br />Not only does she help parents name their tots, but Colleen also assists couples in choosing a new surname - if they don't wish to take each other's and also helps some clients change their name altogether.<br /><br />Colleen suggests name trends for 2023 will include surnames such as Sutton, Miller and Brooke.<br /><br />Colleen, who also works as a nurse, from Boston, Massachusetts, US, said: "I have been obsessed with baby names my entire life.<br /><br />"I spent my whole like preparing for this job - without knowing it existed as an option.<br /><br />"I used to read yearbooks, phonebooks and baby name books and forced all my friends to talk about baby names with me.<br /><br />"My sister and I used to have full lists of baby names and play games revolving around baby names.<br /><br />"I just thought of it as a quirky hobby, but then as my friends and I got to the age where we started having kids, I started unofficially advising them.<br /><br />"I'd get feedback from friends and even their partners saying that it was very helpful.<br /><br />"When I went on maternity leave with my daughter, who is now one, in January 2022, I bit the bullet and launched my website.<br /><br />"It was a slow start, but then in January of this year I started making TikToks and all of a sudden it really took off."<br /><br />Colleen now gets up to five enquiries a day for her services.<br /><br />She assists clients in choosing baby names, new names for themselves or even couples wanting to create a new last name when they wed.<br /><br />Her eight name package costs clients $175 or her 16 name package costs $250.<br /><br />She carries out a thorough process to properly advise clients on the best names to suit their style.<br /><br />She also takes into account any names parents can't use because they know someone else with it or because it doesn't "flow well" with their surname.<br /><br />Colleen said: "The consultations are pretty in depth.<br /><br />"When someone reaches out, I send them a questionnaire to gather information.<br /><br />"Most people that come to me have already given names a ton of thought already.<br /><br />"I get them to fill out what names they like but can't use for one reason or another - like if they know someone else with that name or it doesn't flow well with their last name.<br /><br />"I also ask if there's any family names they'd like to incorporate, what sounds are off limits or any other preferences.<br /><br />'The more criteria people give to me the better - that's when I can really drill down.<br /><br />"After the consultation, I send them the list of names I think would work.
