One of the most creative parts of starting something new is finding a name and it’s also one of the most challenging. Below, you’ll find the stories of how various successful brands, creators and entrepreneurs came up with their names.

Rechaun French Eskridge

It is interesting, I actually created the name for my company in high school. This was before I even knew that I would be a professional photographer. It is funny how moments of the past can prepare you for the journey ahead without you even realizing it. In high school I specialized in fine art. During my senior year, I was a talented art student and I was also enrolled in AP Drawing. In my AP Drawing course, I had to create a fine art portfolio to submit to a panel of judges at the end of the school year for college credit. I titled my portfolio concentration’s body of work “Frozen Time.” Read more>>

Lawrence Box

The Name O’Neal was inherited from my grandfather John O’Neal Muldrow. Which was passed down to my Father John O’Neal Muldrow which now we all share as the same middle name from Siblings such as my 2 brothers & our beloved brother Daron O’Neal Hunter Muldrow. Including my 5 sons and nephews all share this middle name proudly & respectfully. The name O’Neal represents Champion; Hero. Read more>>

Jaylon Calhoun

Calhoun – last name, easy. It was no question that’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted my name on the company to show accountability, Trust and Family. I wanted people to know exactly who I am and what I stand for. So I use my last name personally because that’s what I wanted. Read more>>

Joe Lynch

So back when I was a new photographer I worked with a band called Mallory Run. Most of the band were at one time an Edinboro college student and that’s how I met Dan. Dan, the lead singer, introduced me to his band mates Tommy (Drummer), Albert AKA Bert (Bass), and Joe AKA Ern (Guitar). They would have shows locally and in Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. They didn’t have a band van, and they didn’t all have a big enough car but I did. I would always volunteer/TELL them that I can get them there and I was going anyways to photograph them. I did that for months for them and happy to do so. One day while loading up the cars to head out they called me Mean Joe, I said “What the heck I am not mean!” Read more>>

Kelly Jorg

The name “Nalo” is rooted in our Co-founder Kelly’s family name, Manalo—the Filipino word for “to win.” It’s more than a name; it’s a philosophy. A reminder that every thriving business begins with a winning seed and strong roots. Nalo is both a tribute to our heritage and a reflection of the mindset required to grow with purpose. We’re here to help our clients build with intention, lead with clarity, and win in their space. Read more>>

Ella Solodovnik

SoloElite was inspired by my last name, Solodovnik. I took “Solo” as a nod to my roots — but also to reflect individuality and uniqueness. “Elite” represents the experience I strive to give every client who walks through the door. I want people to feel valued, elevated, and truly cared for. The name reflects my commitment to offering not just services, but an exceptional and personalized beauty experience. Read more>>

Carly Cruickshank

Naming any company is so hard! (Though, not as hard as naming children, fortunately.) I had worked for companies that had names that were hard to pronounce or were similar to a brand in a different industry and that complicated things for the brands. I was careful when choosing to name my brand White Space Design. White space has many meanings in both design and marketing. For marketing or product development, it means a gap in the market for your brand to fill. In design, White Space is purposeful, it isn’t blank or empty. I love the minimalist aesthetic, creating something beautiful and simple is sometimes the most challenging. White space gives space to breathe, a moment of pause on the page to direct the viewer to exactly what you want them to see. Read more>>

Felicia Wallace-Benton

I was told by my first client that I should name my business after my gift — the ability to design a space as someone envisions it.
Here’s the story:
I went out to meet my very first client, who had been referred to me by my mentor — also an interior designer. I was eager to apply everything I’d learned in college and from my mentor. But when I arrived, I was unexpectedly nervous. I don’t know why — I was prepared — but I found myself fumbling through the consultation. Read more>>

Camen Moore

The story of how I came up with up with the name was very hard at first. I didn’t want something super basic as ” Joe’s photography services(no offense to anyone named their business this name) or super complicated were customers would find it hard to remember or even to pronounce. It had to be something that had to stand out and that was symbolic. The name Zephyr or Zeff-err came to me when thinking of biblical references in the bible. A name that that isn’t really that known these days. A name that would be calming and relatable to my business motto. A name that summarize what we do and provide. The name Zephyr refers to one of the old gods that were worshipped before Jesus Christ. The name stood out because the name means gentle calming breeze. This meaning of this name had me in awestruck. The name was perfect. Read more>>

Hailey McIntosh

GrayBelle Photo was born out of the desire to capture real moments of love, joy, and beauty.
Gray pays homage to my daughter, as it is her middle name, and a variation of a family name which means Joy. And, of course, belle is the French word for beautiful. Together they just made sense and sounded so lovely. It’s a reminder to pause and find beauty right where you’re at, to find joy even in the depths of raw, real life. Read more>>

Reema Rachel Khithani

Naming this platform was an act of devotion — to my ancestors, to the communities I serve, and to the vision I’ve carried for years. Hira is my maternal family name, passed down through my beloved grandmother Popati Hiranandani and her brother Partab Hiranandani — two radiant souls who embodied spiritual wisdom, justice, and unconditional love. They were both teachers, writers, and healers — and it’s their legacy that breathes through every part of this work. Read more>>

Michael Wall

Growing up I was heavily influenced by Star Trek. I loved the vision of the future that the show portrayed. It was inclusive and showed everyone working toward the common goal of improving life for everyone. My favorite was the 2nd movie Star Trek The Wrath of Khan. That is the Khan from Meisterkhan. The Meister part comes from my favorite Christmas special, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The villain in the story was BurgerMeister Meisterburger. I combined the two and Meisterkhan was born. Read more>>

Shayna Reutter

There is a local bakery and the owner/baker is the sweetest gentleman and he always refers to his customers “Mi Amor”. We enjoy his bakery and visiting with him that we wanted a name that best represents the love we have for making candy and making peoples day. I am Italian so we added a E at the end and the sticker I designed is very fitting to me so it all came together perfectly. Read more>>