Tech scenes like San Francisco are full of wild stories, but this one takes the cake—or should I say, the crib? Popular developer and streamer ThePrimeagen recently tweeted, "I got into the wrong profession," reacting to a post about a woman in the Bay Area charging a whopping $30,000 to help parents name their babies. If you're in the meme token space, where a snappy name can launch a coin to the moon, this might hit a little too close to home.
The story centers on Taylor Humphrey, a 37-year-old San Francisco-based consultant who's turned baby naming into a luxury service. As detailed in a recent San Francisco Chronicle article, Humphrey offers packages starting at $200 for quick email suggestions, but her high-end VIP options can climb to $30K. These aren't just random picks; they involve deep dives into family genealogy, branding strategies, and even "think tanks" to brainstorm the perfect moniker. She started small, charging $100 back in 2018, but after some VC dinner chatter in 2022, she jacked up her prices—and clients didn't blink.
Why pay that much? For busy, affluent parents—think celebs, tech execs, and the ultra-wealthy—naming a kid is high-stakes. A bad choice could lead to playground bullying or a lifetime of mispronunciations. Humphrey acts as a neutral third party, almost like a therapist, helping couples resolve disputes. One client, Adrianne Holland from Texas, was stuck on a middle name for her daughter Mara until Humphrey suggested "Lily" as a nod to a family member's name. Crisis averted, just in time for hospital discharge.
Humphrey's background adds to the intrigue. She's a trained doula with marketing experience, and her obsession with names stems from personal health struggles a decade ago. Today, with over 100,000 followers on social media, she's named more than 500 kids. But she admits it's a bit silly: "It’s a little embarrassing when you get made fun of on the internet. But at the same time, I’m like, ‘Well, it is silly.’ I come up with baby names for a living."
Now, let's pivot to why this resonates in the meme token world. In crypto, naming isn't just personal—it's profitable. Think about Dogecoin, born from a Shiba Inu meme, or Pepe the Frog turning into a billion-dollar token. A great name captures attention, sparks virality, and builds community overnight. But get it wrong, and your project flops harder than a rug pull.
Imagine applying Humphrey's model to meme coins. A "meme name consultant" charging five figures to craft the next big hit? They'd analyze trends, check for cultural relevance, and ensure it's SEO-friendly for those Google searches. After all, in the Bay Area's startup culture, where VCs throw money at wild ideas, why not? Humphrey's price hike came from VC advice—sound familiar to anyone who's pitched a token idea over dinner?
For blockchain practitioners, this highlights a key lesson: branding matters. Whether it's a baby's future or a coin's market cap, the right name can unlock doors. If you're launching a meme token, consider these tips inspired by Humphrey's approach:
- Dig into origins: Like her genealogical research, explore meme history. Is your name tied to a viral trend or cultural icon?
- Test for resonance: Run a "think tank" with your community. Does it evoke laughs, FOMO, or both?
- Avoid regrets: Humphrey once pushed a spelling change she later second-guessed. In crypto, a rebrand can kill momentum—nail it first time.
- Price it right: Start low, scale up. Humphrey went from $100 to $30K; your token could moon if the name sticks.
ThePrimeagen's tweet captures the envy many feel—why grind in code when naming gigs pay like that? But in meme tokens, you can have both: technical chops plus creative naming. Who knows, maybe the next big service is AI-powered meme name generators, blending Humphrey's intuition with blockchain smarts.
If this sparks ideas for your next project, dive into our knowledge base for more on meme token strategies. And hey, if you're expecting a baby (or a token launch), maybe give Taylor a call—just budget accordingly.