A brand name is more than a label; it’s the foundation for the entire identity and future growth of businesses. How to come up with a brand name? The naming strategy must rely on something original and recognizable, but some creative techniques can help the brand’s name outshine the competition in the market.
Key Takeaways:
- Brand naming needs a strategy to build long-term business success.
- The brand’s name should be unique and memorable.
- It should be available legally and digitally to keep your brand protected and accessible.
Why is Designing a Brand Name Crucial?
When it comes to how to choose a brand name, ensure the proposed name aligns with a business’s style, values, and mission. A good brand name can increase a business’s recognition, improve customer loyalty, and distinguish the brand from rivals, as stated by Smash Brand. Conversely, a poor brand name makes a business forgettable and untrustworthy.
Also Read: 10+ Benefits of Branding for Your Marketing Strategy
How to Come Up With a Brand Name?
Here are the quick strategies to embark on a seamless brand-naming journey in simple ways.
1. Define Brand’s Identity
Brand identity identification process (Source: Freepik-vector4stock)
Ask yourself questions about what you offer, who you serve, and how you want to be perceived. This foundational understanding will help you create a name that truly captures your brand’s essence.
2. Identify Target Market
Identifying target market illustration (Source: Freepik)
A great brand name doesn’t just sound good; it should speak directly to your target market and reflect your industry’s tone. To get it right, know your target audience and industry inside out by understanding their values, interests, and lifestyles. Then, identify the audience’s language, tone, or style that they respond to.
For instance, a brand for Gen Z creatives may use a playful name, and a professional services brand needs something more formal.
3. Brainstorm Potential Name Ideas
It’s time to embark on your creativity! Get a group together and engage in a creative brainstorming session by letting ideas flow freely without judgment. So, how to come up with a business name this way? Here are some tricks to guide your brainstorming session on naming objectives.
- Make it memorable: Your brand name should be clear, easy to recall, and simple to pronounce or write. For example, people immediately associate Canva with design tools and Dropbox with file storage. These names are short, punchy, and self-explanatory.
- Try a portmanteau: Brand names that combine two words (known as portmanteaus) can succinctly describe your business’s purpose, like Facebook or DoorDash. These hybrid names blend familiarity with creativity, which makes them easier to remember and connect with.
- Use metaphors: Playing with metaphor-based names can make a powerful and relatable connection, like Amazon drawing inspiration from the biggest river in the world.
- Add a unique modifier: Your brand name should be unique to make a common word ownable. Opt to pair the core description with a vivid or emotional word, like Red Apron (color + object = distinct visual).
Also Read: 20+ Social Media Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Brand
4. Confirm Availability
Google search to check availability (Source: Freepik-Rawpixel)
Confirming availability for a brand name within the industry is essential to avoid legal risks and secure a domain name. Then, how to come up with a good brand this way? Simply put, you can do a manual online search using Google to see if the brand’s name is being used unofficially or locally.
5. Gather Feedback
Gathering feedback (Source: Freepik- Rawpixel)
Is the brand’s name appealing or confusing? You can test the top brand’s name listings with your target audience. Plus, gather feedback on their overall impressions. Here, a guide for creating a brand name can give you a fair insight into the effectiveness of each brand’s name.
Also Read: 10 Best Marketing Analytics Tools for the Business Industry
Top Big Brands That Built Identity Through Naming
Here are some of the iconic big brands that succeed in building a strong brand identity from naming strategy.
1. Spotify
The brand name “Spotify” is a clever invented word blending “spot” and “identify.” It sounds musical and fits perfectly in the youth-driven space. It’s also easy to pronounce and recognizable in many countries.
2. Apple
The short form of Apple’s brand name in a tech-heavy world is timeless, verbally iconic, and approachable. That’s what makes it accessible to a wide audience.
3. Tesla
Named after inventor Nikola Tesla, this brand’s name looks sleek and modern. This made it searchable and ownable across markets across the automotive space.
Also Read: 10+ Best Marketing Tools for Online Business That Help a Lot
Let’s Build a Powerful Brand Name!
Coming up with a brand name requires a strategic process that gives you insight into your brand’s identity, audience, and purpose. By following a structured process for how to come up with a brand name, you can craft a meaningful, legally safe, and market-ready brand identity.
To boost a modern brand’s name, you can use a sans-serif collection from Creatype Studio. Choose your favorite font, install it easily, and enjoy the creative ride as you shape your brand identity.
