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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything about finding a baby name you both love.

What is NameMatch?

NameMatch is a couples baby-naming app. Partners swipe independently through 105,000+ baby names, and the app instantly reveals names you both love. Think of it as Tinder for baby names — but for couples who want to find common ground without the arguments.

How does NameMatch work?

You pick whether you're looking for boy names, girl names, or both. Then you start swiping — right to like, left to pass, up to love. Share a session code with your partner so they can swipe independently on their own device. When you both like the same name, NameMatch reveals it as a match. You build a shared shortlist and rank your favorites together.

Is NameMatch free?

Yes. NameMatch is free to use — you can swipe, match, build your shortlist, and rank names without paying anything. Optional premium features are available for couples who want extras like unlimited loves and advanced filters.

Do I need to download an app?

No. NameMatch is a web app that works in any browser on your phone, tablet, or computer. Just visit name-match.com and start swiping — no app store download required.

How do couples agree on a baby name?

The hardest part of baby naming is that couples discuss names one at a time, which turns into a veto loop. NameMatch solves this by having each partner swipe independently — you never see each other's rejections, only the names you both liked. This removes the pressure and lets you discover surprising common ground.

What is the best baby name app for couples?

NameMatch is built specifically for couples. Unlike baby name lists or solo apps, NameMatch has real-time couple matching, a shared shortlist, collaborative ranking with Borda count, and a recommendation engine that learns each partner's individual taste. Both partners swipe independently on their own device, and matches are revealed instantly.

How many names does NameMatch have?

NameMatch has over 105,000 baby names from 40+ cultural origins, including English, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Irish, Norse, Greek, Latin, French, Italian, and many more. Each name includes its meaning, origin, popularity trend, and how it sounds with your surname.

How does the recommendation engine work?

NameMatch learns your taste from every swipe. It tracks 69 dimensions of preference — sound patterns, syllable counts, cultural origins, name styles, and more. By your fifteenth swipe, the engine has built a taste profile and starts personalizing which names it shows you. It gets smarter the more you swipe.

Can I use NameMatch without a partner?

Absolutely. You can swipe, discover names, build a favorites list, and explore the full name database on your own. The couple matching features activate when you share a session code with a partner, but they're not required.

How do I invite my partner?

After you start swiping, NameMatch gives you a session code (like NM-ABCDEF). Share that code or the join link with your partner. They open the link, and they're connected to your session — no signup needed. Each of you swipes on your own device, and matches appear in real time.

Is my data private?

Yes. NameMatch is privacy-first. Your surname, avoid list, and personal data stay on your device in local storage and are never sent to our servers. We don't sell your data to anyone. We use only essential cookies for authentication — no tracking or advertising cookies.

What is surname flow?

Surname flow is a NameMatch feature that checks how a first name sounds with your last name. It analyzes rhythm (syllable patterns), alliteration, rhyme, and overall phonetic harmony. Your surname stays on your device — the analysis runs locally and is never sent to our servers.

What happens when we match on a name?

When both partners like or love the same name, NameMatch reveals it with a celebration — confetti, the name displayed beautifully, and both partners' reactions shown. If you both loved a name (swiped up), it's a perfect match and gets pinned to the top of your shortlist with a gold badge.

How do we pick our final name?

Once you've built a shortlist of matched names, NameMatch has a collaborative ranking feature. Each partner ranks their top picks independently, then NameMatch uses Borda count (a fair voting method) to calculate the consensus favorite. It's a structured, fun way to go from a shortlist to The One.

Can I search for a specific name?

Yes. You can browse and search the full database of 105,000+ names at name-match.com/names. Each name has its own page with meaning, origin, popularity trends, similar names, and a "Why This Name?" story.

What is Name of the Day?

Name of the Day is a daily curated name with a rich story — its meaning, history, famous bearers, and cultural context. It's a fun way to discover names you might not have considered. Both partners can react to the daily name together.

Does NameMatch work on desktop?

Yes. NameMatch is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops. On desktop, you can use keyboard shortcuts — arrow right to like, arrow left to pass, arrow up to love — in addition to clicking the buttons.

Do I need to create an account?

No. You can start swiping immediately without signing up. NameMatch creates an anonymous session automatically. When you're ready to save your progress, invite a partner, or sync across devices, you can sign in with Apple, Google, or email — it takes seconds.

Still have questions?

We're happy to help.

Email support@name-match.com