Passionate About Baby Names

Hi, I’m Shandy — and I’ve been fascinated by names for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my dream job was naming crayons, since it didn’t seem possible to have a career naming people (so here we are). I grew up with baby name books, gave all my dolls and pets middle names (sometimes more than one), and my parents used to joke that my future kids would each have eight names — don’t worry, they don’t!

My full name is Shannon, meaning “small and wise,” but when I was seven, I came across the name “Shandy” — meaning “rambunctious” — in one of Bruce Lansky’s name books. I stopped answering to Shannon that day, and I’ve been Shandy ever since. That experience sparked an even deeper appreciation for how names shape our identity, influence how we’re perceived, and affect how we feel about ourselves.

Now, I get to share that love by helping others find the right names — whether it’s:
🌿 Choosing a baby name that feels both timeless and unique
📚 Crafting character names that bring fictional worlds to life
✨ Finding the perfect name for a business, brand, or product
🌍 Weaving heritage and family history into naming through genealogy research

When I’m not lost in a naming project, you’ll find me reading, writing, or working on my Reiki practice (I’m Reiki II certified and continuing on my healing journey). I’ve also been a genealogy enthusiast for over a decade, tracing my family lines and discovering how names connect us across generations.

I live in Pennsylvania with my husband, our two kids, and our two labs, River and Ranger — yes, even the dogs got names that tell a story.