What’s in a name? A lot apparently, as entrepreneurs, artists, and makers of all kinds spend enormous amounts of energy searching for the right name for their business, project, organization, or creation. Below, you’ll find the stories of how various successful brands, creators and entrepreneurs came up with their names.
Ethan Banayan
Sobuneh, pronounced SO-BOO-NEH, means breakfast in Farsi. It’s a simple word, but as Iranian Americans, it holds much more meaning for us than just the first meal of the day. When we started Sobuneh, we wanted a name with a deeper meaning—something that resonated personally with us and could eventually resonate with our customers. For us, Sobuneh represents not only breakfast but also spending time with loved ones, enjoying quality food, and feeling at home. Read more>>
Laura Voth
Naming Southern Ruetz was a deeply personal journey. “Ruetz” is a blend of my daughters’ middle names, Ruth and Elizabeth, which makes the name close to my heart. It also ties into my love for New Orleans, where many street names begin with “Rue.” This connection to “Rue” fits perfectly with our storefront’s location in the Historic French Quarter District of Charleston, SC. Read more>>
Emma Gibb
My business is called The Worldly Whisk. Coming up with the name was a challenge. While I specialize in desserts, I am also available for savory items as well. I wanted a name that was all encompassing, catchy, and original. My personal mission is to be able to look at any dish or dessert and just know that I can make it well. I bake and cook cuisine from all over the world and I wanted to incorporate that into the name. I want my customers to know that my influence comes from the world as a whole, and not just one region. As a baker, I use all kinds of tools. One of the most common items I use is a whisk. When I was putting names together, The Worldly Whisk came into my head. I thought it was a cute play on words and I was immediately able to imagine the logo. The name stuck and I hope that soon, it will be a household name in my local area. Read more>>
Jalil And Starr Roberts
Kuumba is the sixth day of Kwanzaa and it means creativity. The Kuumba principle means to do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. After we scrapped our original business plan and went through the name changing process it kept coming to the top of our list. The meaning is aspirational and embodies how we want to show up in our community. Read more>>
Patrick Donley
In 2019, after a 35 year career as an artist and gallerist, I was preparing to sell my 1920’s warehouse/studio in order to capitalize on an up market. I then met Phyllis, a groundhog. After several attempts to trap and relocate her, I discovered in the basement beside a large gap in the floor a pile of dirt pushed out from under the broken slab. In that pile were several intact bottles along with broken dishes, a broken doll’s head and some stoneware. As it turns out, my building was constructed in 1922 on the site of an urban midden that had been in use from the 1870’s. Thus began my accidental career as an archeologist, and my partnership with Phyllis who continued to unearth treasure while showing me the way. Today, we are turning that warehouse into a museum to educate visitors about Louisville’s historic culture as told through the refuse discarded by the residents over a century ago. Read more>>
Keith Jacob
Sukha Studios wasn’t just a name we randomly selected—it emerged from a deep understanding and passion for everything the word “sukha” embodies. Derived from Sanskrit, “sukha” translates to “happiness” or “ease,” qualities that resonate deeply with our mission and values. Why “Sukha”? In today’s fast-paced world, finding happiness and ease can seem like a distant dream. Yet, these are the very states of being that yoga, fitness, and pilates aim to cultivate. When we thought about what we wanted our brand to stand for, “sukha” immediately came to mind. It encapsulated the essence of what we aim to offer—a sanctuary where individuals can find joy, comfort, and balance through dedicated practice. Read more>>