Picking a Name for Your Business

Naming a new business can be a challenging task.

A name should be memorable, easy to pronounce, and relevant to your business’s purpose or products. A great name can help your business stand out, attract customers, and build brand recognition.

In this article, we’ll discuss the different factors to consider when naming your new business and provide some tips to help you come up with a winning name.

Tips to help you decide on a name

Start with a clear understanding of your business

Before you start brainstorming names, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your business’s purpose, values, and target audience.

What products or services will you offer? Who are your ideal customers, and what are their needs and wants?

What are your company’s unique selling points, mission, and brand personality?

Answering these questions will help you come up with a name that reflects your business’s identity and resonates with your target audience.

Brainstorm ideas

Once you have a clear understanding of your business, it’s time to start brainstorming name ideas. There are several approaches you can take:

Should be Descriptive

A descriptive name tells customers what your business does. For example, “The Shoe Company” or “Clean & Clear Plumbing.”

Should be Evocative

An evocative name creates an emotional or symbolic connection with your customers. For example, “Apple” or “Amazon.”

Should not be Abstract

An abstract name doesn’t have a clear meaning but is memorable and easy to pronounce. For example, “Google” or “Nike.”

Should reflect Values

Think about your business’s purpose, values, and unique selling points, and try to come up with words or phrases that reflect them. Write down as many ideas as you can, no matter how silly or unrelated they may seem.

Consider your target audience

Your business name should appeal to your target audience.

Think about their age, gender, interests, and values.

Consider whether a name would be easy for them to remember, pronounce, and spell. Avoid using obscure or complicated words that may confuse or alienate potential customers.

Make sure it’s available

Before you finalize a name, make sure it’s available as a domain name and social media handles.

Check domain name registrars like GoDaddy or Namecheap to see if the name is available as a .com or .net domain. Look for the name on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to make sure it’s not already taken.

Get feedback

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential names, get feedback from friends, family, or potential customers. Ask them which names they like best and why.

Consider their feedback carefully, but don’t let it influence your decision too much. Remember that ultimately, you are the one who has to live with the name.

Consider legal and cultural issues

Finally, consider any legal or cultural issues that may arise with your chosen name. Make sure it’s not already trademarked or copyrighted by another company.

Avoid using words or phrases that are offensive or insensitive to any cultural or ethnic group.

How Some Companies Decided on Their Names

Nike

Nike was named after the Greek goddess of victory. Co-founder Phil Knight was a track athlete and believed the name would evoke a sense of strength, speed, and power.

Amazon

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, chose the name because he wanted the company to be “exotic and different.” He also wanted a name that started with “A” so that it would appear at the top of alphabetical lists.

Google

Google’s name is a play on the word “googol,” which is a mathematical term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. Co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin wanted a name that conveyed the vast amount of information that could be found on their search engine.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola’s name comes from its original two main ingredients: coca leaves and kola nuts.

Apple

Steve Jobs came up with the name Apple after spending time at an apple orchard. He thought the name was “fun, spirited, and not intimidating.”

Starbucks

Starbucks was named after the first mate in Herman Melville’s book “Moby Dick.” Co-founder Gordon Bowker was looking for a name that started with “st” and thought the name sounded strong and evocative.

eBay

eBay was originally called AuctionWeb. The name eBay comes from the company’s original domain name, Echo Bay Technology Group, which was already taken.

Twitter

The name Twitter comes from the sound of a bird chirping. Co-founder Jack Dorsey thought the name conveyed a sense of movement and that it was “perfect for what we were trying to do.”

Uber

Uber is a German word that means “above” or “over.” Co-founder Travis Kalanick thought the name was fitting because the company aimed to provide a high-end transportation service.

Lego

Lego comes from the Danish words “leg godt,” which mean “play well.” The company originally made wooden toys before transitioning to plastic building blocks.

Yahoo

Yahoo was originally an acronym for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.” Co-founders Jerry Yang and David Filo eventually dropped the acronym and decided to just use the word “Yahoo” as the company’s name.

Kodak

Kodak’s name was chosen because the letters “K” and “D” were seen as strong and memorable. The name has no particular meaning, but it was chosen to be distinctive and easy to remember.

3M

3M stands for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. The company was originally a mining company that later transitioned to manufacturing.

Airbnb

The founders of Airbnb, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, came up with the name because they wanted to offer air mattresses to people who needed a place to stay during conferences. The name Airbnb stands for “air bed and breakfast.”

Adobe

Adobe was named after a creek that ran behind the house of co-founder John Warnock. He thought the name sounded “friendly and approachable.”

Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s was named after its founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. The two childhood friends started the company with a $5 correspondence course in ice cream-making.

BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed was named after the idea of a “buzz” or excitement around news and entertainment. Co-founder Jonah Peretti wanted a name that conveyed a sense of fun and social sharing.

Canon

Canon is derived from the word “Kwanon,” which is the name of the Buddhist goddess of mercy. The company originally made cameras with the name Kwanon before changing it to Canon.

Dell

Dell was named after its founder, Michael Dell. The company started as PC’s Limited before being renamed to Dell Computer Corporation in 1988.

FedEx

FedEx stands for Federal Express. The name was chosen to evoke a sense of reliability and speed.

Ford

Ford was named after its founder, Henry Ford.

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson was named after its founders, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson.

Hewlett-Packard (HP)

HP was named after its founders, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. The company started in a garage in Palo Alto, California.

IKEA

IKEA is an acronym for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. Ingvar Kamprad is the founder’s name, Elmtaryd is the farm where he grew up, and Agunnaryd is the nearby village.

Instagram

Instagram was named after a combination of “instant camera” and “telegram.” The founders wanted a name that conveyed the idea of capturing and sharing moments.

Lululemon

Lululemon was named after a joke that founder Chip Wilson made about the French word “lululette,” which means a playful or mischievous woman. He thought the name was fun and memorable.

Microsoft

Microsoft is a combination of “microcomputer” and “software.” Co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen wanted a name that conveyed their focus on software for small computers.

Netflix

Netflix is a combination of “net” and “flix” (short for “flicks,” a slang term for movies). The company originally offered DVD rentals by mail before transitioning to streaming.

 Nintendo

Nintendo is a combination of “nin” (which means “entrusted” in Japanese) and “ten-do” (which means “heaven” in Japanese). The company started as a playing card company before transitioning to video games.

Pepsi

Pepsi was named after its original ingredient, pepsin (an enzyme that aids digestion).

Pixar

Pixar was named after the company’s first computer, the Pixar Image Computer. The name was a combination of “pixel” and “art.”

Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble was named after its founders, William Procter and James Gamble. The company started in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1837.

Reebok

Reebok is a variation of the word “rhebok,” which is a type of African antelope. The name was chosen because it was unusual and memorable.

Samsung

Samsung means “three stars” in Korean. The name was chosen to represent the company’s three business areas: electronics, engineering, and shipbuilding.

Skype

Skype was originally called “Sky Peer-to-Peer.” The name was later shortened to Skype, which was catchier and easier to remember.

Spotify

Spotify was named after a brainstorming session by the company’s founders. They wanted a name that conveyed the idea of “spotting” new music and “identifying” it for others.

Tesla

Tesla was named after the inventor and electrical engineer, Nikola Tesla. The company’s founder, Elon Musk, admired Tesla’s work and wanted to pay tribute to him.

Twitter

Twitter was originally called “twttr” (without the vowels). The name was chosen because it was short and easy to remember.

Uber

Uber is derived from the German word “über,” which means “above” or “super.” The company’s founders wanted a name that conveyed the idea of being the best and most efficient transportation service.

Visa

Visa was originally called “BankAmericard” when it was launched by Bank of America in 1958. It was later renamed Visa in 1976 to convey the idea of universal acceptance.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen means “people’s car” in German. The company was founded by the German Labour Front in 1937 to produce an affordable car for the masses.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp was named after the phrase “What’s up?” The founders wanted a name that sounded casual and friendly.

Wix

Wix was originally called “Wixit,” which means “to leave or exit.” The name was later shortened to Wix to make it catchier.

Yelp

Yelp is a combination of “yellow pages” and “help.” The company’s founders wanted a name that conveyed the idea of a community-powered business directory.

YouTube

YouTube was named after the domain name “www.youtube.com.” The founders thought the name was catchy and easy to remember.

Zara

Zara is the name of the founder’s favourite film, “Zara, the Gypsy Princess.” The company started in Galicia, Spain in 1975.

Zipcar

Zipcar was named after the idea of “zipping around” in a car. The company’s founders wanted a name that conveyed the idea of convenience and flexibility.

 Zillow

Zillow is a combination of “zillions” and “pillow.” The name was chosen because it conveyed the idea of a comfortable home and a wealth of information.

 Zoom

Zoom was named after the idea of “zooming in” for a closer look. The company’s founders wanted a name that conveyed the idea of video conferencing and collaboration.

Zynga

Zynga is named after the founder’s bulldog, Zinga. The company started as a social gaming company before transitioning to mobile games.

Conclusion

Naming your new business is an important task that should not be taken lightly. A great name can help your business stand out, attract customers, and build brand recognition.

When naming your business, start with a clear understanding of your business’s purpose and target audience.

Brainstorm ideas, consider your target audience, make sure it’s available, get feedback, and consider any legal or cultural issues. With these tips, you’ll be on your way to naming your new business with confidence.