Once upon a time in the bustling town of Bizville, there lived a group of aspiring entrepreneurs, each eager to create the next big brand. They gathered in a cozy café, sipping their favorite drinks, and shared stories about their struggles with naming their businesses…
One of them, a young woman sighed and said, “I just want a name that stands out and resonates with people. But it’s so hard to get it right!”
An old wise man known for his successful ventures, overheard their conversation and decided to share the secret science of brand names. He pulled up a chair and began his story….
Now seriously… You are probably here to discover the do’s and don’ts for creating a perfect brand name. Maybe you’re reconsidering a brand name for yourself, or you’re helping a friend, a colleague, or partner to come up with a great name. Or maybe I (the writer) send you here. Overall, if you really want your name to stick out and to be remembered easily, it should be easy to pronounce, let’s start with that. This is called the fluency effect and increases income. Names such as Dibs, Uber, Netflix, Apple and Kodak are perfect examples (good to know: Dibs really increased sales after their rebranding, it was first “Snack-a-Bites” by Nestle). And actually, the shorter, the better.
When choosing your brand name, start by writing down what your business is about. Decide if you want your identity to be part of the brand. If you do, consider using personal elements like a favorite food, a beloved place, your name, or the name of a dear person or pet. There are no hard rules about how a name should relate to your brand. For example, the words “Apple” and “Windows” don’t relate to computers, yet now you can’t undo the association
If you prefer not to link the brand to yourself, think about connecting the name to your product or service. For instance, “SnapChat” clearly indicates its function. If this approach doesn’t appeal to you, try mind mapping everything that comes to mind when you think about your company. Consider how you want your brand to feel: strong, luxurious, impactful? Write down all the words that come to mind with those feelings. This process should help you generate a fitting and memorable brand name.
If you want your name to feel natural and to be accepted easily, make sure to match your name with your vibe. Names are powerful, and the sounds within them can shape how people perceive a brand. Different sounds evoke different emotions and associations. The sounds of I & E, the sound of A, and the sounds of O & U all produce different effects.Whenever we hear something, we “feel” something. Play on that feeling. Before we dive into the sounds, let’s give you a helping hand on how to help yourself for a good brandname.
If your brand wants to convey either a sleek, modern, and friendly. or fast (speed, sports) vibe, the I and E are interesting sounds. For instance, brands like “Ferrari” and “Etsy” utilize these sounds to suggest energy, innovation, and approachability. The ‘I’ sound in “Ferrari” feels fast and efficient, perfect for a fast brand, while the ‘E’ sound in “Etsy” is vibrant and welcoming.
Next, the low front vowel ‘A’ conveys reliability and warmth.Brands like “Amazon” and “Apple” use the ‘A’ sound to create a sense of openness and strength. “Amazon” evokes a vast, reliable marketplace, and “Apple” feels simple and universally appealing.
For a luxurious, exclusive image, back vowels like ‘O’ and ‘U’ are ideal.These sounds suggest robustness, trustworthiness, and depth. Brands like “Rolex” and “Uber” utilize these vowels effectively. The ‘O’ in “Rolex” signifies luxury and durability, while the ‘U’ in “Uber” gives a sense of seriousness and strength.
If your brand is in the sports industry or aims to evoke speed and passion, sharp, energetic sounds like ‘K’ and ‘T’ are also effective. “Nike” uses the sharp ‘K’ sound to convey speed and agility, fitting for a sports brand, the T of Tesla, de K of Kodak, and so on.
And last but not least: when picking your brand name, make sure it’s unique with little to no competition. Avoid choosing names that are already on the market to prevent confusion. Do a legal check (via boip.int ) to avoid trademark issues and make sure the domain name is availablefor your website. This will help your brand stand out and be easily recognizable.
