By admin on Sep 26, 2011 in basic naming questions, best names, brand naming, company names, competitive names, controversial names, descriptive names, differentiators, empty bucket name, master brands, naming pioneer, naming strategy, naming tips, product names | 8 Comments
The Naru (Naming Guru) has emerged from the naming reflecting pool to finish sharing his/her branding perspectives from earlier this month. 5b.) Literal / descriptive names are better than emotional names when developing specific product names underneath a family brand. While emotional, short & snappy brand names should establish strong connections with consumers (e.g., Northface, [...]
By admin on Sep 13, 2010 in brand naming, controversial names, product names | 2 Comments
Another car brand makes a linguistic faux pas? It seems too extraordinary to be true, and yet Audi has just released its newest electric car called “e-tron.” Inconveniently, étron means “excrement” in French. Whether or not Chevy’s car name “No Va” was really what led to its abysmal sales in both Mexico and Spain, it’s [...]
By admin on Aug 8, 2010 in brand naming, controversial names, creative inspiration, descriptive names, product names | 2 Comments
(A NameStormers’ Viewpoint – August, 2010) Popular commercial brands generate a “positive emotional reaction from the human brain,” according to a study by the Radiological Society of North America. Does that mean consumers are inclined to just purchase those brands that we have all heard of before, for better or for worse? This study links [...]
By admin on Jul 30, 2010 in brand naming, controversial names, creative inspiration, naming tips | 0 Comments
Society celebrates, envies, and covets creative people. So many individuals wish they were more creative – but then shy away from risky ideas. How can we both desire to be more creative and then run from the creative process? In the case of naming, sometimes creativity can cause you to fall flat on your face. [...]
By admin on Feb 14, 2010 in best names, company names, controversial names, naming strategy | 2 Comments
MBIA Asset Management manages about $45 billion. They provide fixed-income asset management along with a broad range of services to help state and local governments, academic institutions, pensions, endowments & insurance companies meet their investment objectives. They changed their name recently to something much more differentiating and memorable. While not a “safe” name, their new [...]
By admin on Feb 1, 2010 in brand naming, company names, controversial names, naming tips | 0 Comments
American National Bank was prosperous and growing. As it expanded by building new branches in adjacent communities, it started bumping into banks with confusingly similar names. It contacted us to develop a new name brand name that was: More distinctive and protectable than its current name Short and punchy and that would “pop” off of [...]
By admin on Jan 23, 2010 in best names, brand naming, controversial names, naming linguistic issues, product names, trademarks | 1 Comment
As the January 27th announcement of Apple’s new tablet PC fast approaches, many have speculated on its name. While the inside favorite seems to be the iSlate, others are offering up alternatives like the iTablet, the iPad, etc. Regardless of what is announced on the 27th, here are some of our thoughts regarding the iSlate [...]
By admin on Oct 11, 2009 in brand naming, controversial names, naming strategy, naming tips, product names | 0 Comments
After almost 25 years of product brand name development and over 1,500 client engagements, we’ve learned that even the best new brand name ideas still have to be sold to the client. Why? Because most clients, through no fault of their own, don’t know how to evaluate a new name. Here are the biggest mistakes [...]
By admin on Aug 30, 2009 in best names, controversial names, naming tips | 0 Comments
Controversial names, while uncomfortable for some, do generate interest and grab many other’s attention. I had lunch with three venture capitalists last week. We had developed a name for one of their companies that they were very concerned about. While the original name, Infinity Channel, was sort of boring, the new name was not. And [...]
By admin on May 5, 2009 in best names, company names, controversial names, naming tips, product names | 0 Comments
Rules are meant to be broken. While we hope this isn’t usually the case, it sometimes does apply when naming a new company or product. For example, a startup hired us to name their new health care company. While your initial reaction might be B O R I N G, there was a twist. They needed a new company name [...]
