Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? So, we asked some very sharp folks to tell us the stories of how they came up with the names of their brands.

RENE MORALES

I came up with the name REEMA because each letter represents someone in my family: Rene, Ella, Elijah, Madeline, and Adriana. This name reminds me daily of who I’m working for and why I started this journey. It’s not just a business—it’s a purpose rooted in family, legacy, and love. Read more>>

Kimberly Davis

I came up with name Protect Our Stolen Treasures (POST) because we started as a group of parents who loss our children to police brutality.. it seemed as no justice or responsibility was being taking in the deaths of our children. We loss our children yet society wants to discredit the value they had in the world. Read more>>

Cheuk Ying Cherie Chan

Naming GATKI wasn’t just about finding something that sounded good. It had to reflect our values, carry cultural depth, and feel distinct. GATKI blends GAT (lit. “luck” in Cantonese) with KI (lit. “energy” in Japanese). Our name evokes the phonetic link between 吉 (lit. “luck”) and 桔 (lit. “mandarin orange”) in Cantonese, where the fruit has long symbolized auspiciousness and vitality. We wanted something rooted in East Asian culture, yet accessible to a broader audience. Read more>>

Karenleen Irlanda

The name The Sacred Beauty Lounge came to me like a divine whisper—one I couldn’t ignore. I pulled an Oracle card one day that had the word sacred, and something about it just stuck with me. Soon after, I kept hearing the word in songs, conversations, and moments that felt too aligned to be coincidence. It felt like the universe was guiding me—confirming that this was the name meant for my dream. Read more>>

Korah Kinsley Johansen

I went about naming my first book, and ultimately then my business, very slowly. I had an idea for some sort of hygge guide, but I wanted to live it out first so that it could be authentic and less pre-conceived. I first created it by hand over the course of a full year- it would be a gift for my friend. It had a different name. Once I realized how to create the book and have it printed, I sat down to write the forward. Essentially, I grew up with hygge, in adulthood I parted from it, and I had a deep feeling of needing it again. What was that feeling, exactly? I searched for the right words. I felt drawn back to something I already knew, like I was returning to my childhood, to my home. I was returning to hygge. Read more>>

Caroline Calleja

The name “Protea Event Planners” is inspired by the protea flower, a symbol deeply rooted in South Africa. The protea, known for its unique and striking appearance, represents transformation, diversity, and resilience—qualities that perfectly align with our approach to event planning. Read more>>

Jon Lawlor

We knew that we wanted to create something that stood out and stood the test of time in a crowded and growing industry. With that in mind, we planned a taproom aesthetic, construction projects, beer flavors, a full opening day tap list, and every other aspect of the plan that we could design. Only after we had it laid out did we consider what to call ourselves. Read more>>

Elishia Ortiz

I wanted a name that felt feminine, strong, and rooted in purpose. Adira means “strong, noble, and powerful woman,” which deeply resonated with me because so much of my work is about helping women show up boldly, share their voice, and grow their brands with confidence. Read more>>

Brian DePaulis

Well, just to immediately be transparent the vision for my brand started after getting sober in a prison cell. I started doing vision this company and what life could be sober and on the right path and during that prison sentence, I gave my life to Jesus Christ and he elevated my life and I wanted to elevate the food scene with the gifts I have been given so it was a no-brainer elevated was a multipurpose name. I wanted to elevate the food scenes with the gift guy gave me and then I also wanted to elevate his name with the opportunity he gave me and then obviously we do elevated cuisine, which is also a bonus. Read more>>

Marianne Hovakimyan

MARIHOVA is more than just a company name — it’s a reflection of identity, purpose, and legacy. The name is a blend of the first four letters of my first and last name: MARI (from Marianne) and HOVA, a unique portion of my surname. By combining these parts, MARIHOVA becomes a signature — a personal stamp on everything the brand stands for. Read more>>

Candice Carnes

We’re actually in the middle of a name change. Originally, we were The Shop of Infinite Curiosities. I was learning about cabinets of curiosities in a class in ancient books and learning about early curiosities as part of my Master of Liberal Arts degree at Johns Hopkins while also becoming an artist. Read more>>

Gail Jennings

The search for exotic herbs and spices was key to the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries. Men like Magellan risked it all to sail into the unknown, hoping to return laden with clove and nutmeg from the Spice Islands. Many explorers did so financed by their King. At King’s Pepper, we say our award-winning blend is worthy of a King’s ransom because of its bold, versatile flavor. It the perfect thing to spice up the food for the royalty at your table. Read more>>

Michele Patterson

Coming up with a business name is never easy—especially when the business itself evolves almost overnight. What began as a hobby quickly turned into something much bigger, and at the time, I had no clear sense of who my ideal customer would be. I just knew I wanted the name to be memorable and reflective of the work I was doing. Read more>>

Becca New

Southern Soiree was born out of the union of two Louisiana-based stationery businesses—each with a shared passion for thoughtfully curated celebrations. As we combined our talents and vision, we knew we needed a name that captured more than just pretty paper. We wanted something that celebrated where we’re from, what we love, and what we do. Read more>>

Daniel Pereira

Absolutely — naming a business is a journey in itself. For us, it all started with “Panateca.” We began as a Venezuelan bakery, and in Spanish, pan means bread. We wanted a name that felt rooted in our culture but also had a broader, almost poetic touch. The suffix -teca, as in discotheque or bibliotheque, means a collection. So Panateca became “a collection of breads.” Read more>>

Amanda Fedele

When I started my photography journey, I knew I wanted a name that was bold, a little cheeky, and totally unforgettable—just like the images I aim to capture. That’s how Sweet AF Photography was born. At first glance, the name might make people smile or do a double take—and that’s exactly the point. It sparks curiosity and starts conversations, which is what great photography does too. Read more>>