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.

Angela Anderson

In the late 2017 to 2018, we were working as business consultants helping small businesses in various fields. As we would tackle each confidential issue, we would gather a group of like-minded small business advocates to brainstorm and collectively role-play different scenarios. We would initiate a call “Syndicate Unite” and all of these advocates would meet at our house for a potluck/think tank. During the Fall of 2018, we started getting approached by our local jurisdiction to consider opening our own wine bar. They were highly suggesting this as they knew our connection to the industry as we had been leading wine-based networking events all over town. We came up with an idea to open a brick and mortar location that could be a business lounge during the day and a wine bar at night. The City came back with a counter proposal of grant funds that would assist us in building this ideal location. Read more>>

Jesse Staton

The inspiration for Golden Army Fitness emerged during a profound moment of personal reflection. While taking psilocybin mushrooms name came to me in a flash of clarity while on a 8 hour high. It symbolized the strength we can harness, even in the toughest times, by uplifting and caring for others. The vision behind Golden Army Fitness is about building a community of resilience, unity, and empowerment Read more>>

Stanley Agwere Emeryls

Essien just as the name implies, it’s bold, subtle, unique, swift, African and resonate more with African American and Africans especially the people from Akwa Ibom in Nigeria West Africa. Read more>>

Melissa Delorenzo

The name oodelooo Ballet Wear took me some time to figure out, but in the end, it was right in front of me all along. Initially, the brand was called Created by DeLo, but I knew I needed to rebrand to better reflect my niche. Since my focus is on ballet skirts for dancers, while also expanding into street-to-studio styles for all women, “ballet wear” made sense. But where did “oodelooo” come from? Read more>>

Lindsay Blackman

Eleven years ago, I set out on what would eventually become my full-time photography venture, LiveJoy Photography. The way I came up with the name still makes me smile to this day. It all started when I offered to photograph a friend’s newborn, armed with nothing but Pinterest inspiration and my living room as a makeshift studio. ‘I’ve seen some Pinterest pictures!’ I confidently declared. ‘Let’s try some photos in my living room!’ Read more>>

Jaime Coast

I recently rebranded my company to Cotton & Bow. There were a lot of factors that went into the decision on the rebrand, the name, the look, and the values I wanted to communicate. Here are three values I wanted the name of my business to convey. 1. Quality – I wanted to communicate quality and our attention to the materials that go into each and every Cotton & Bow product. Chiefly, our 100% cotton paper and chiffon ribbon from our best seller – handmade paper place cards with bows. Read more>>

Crystal Williams-palmer

Names are very important in my family. Each of my siblings names have significant meaning and we all have names that start with C so when I was looking at the name I immediatley thought “Crash” for the name; which would go with the breaking part of the business. Catharsis came a bit later when I was thinking more of the after with the thoughts of after the breaking happens. Catharsis is really that exhale moment when you are in the session and taking a moment or when leaving the room. The Rage Factory part is a nod to the band C&C Music Factory from the 90’s, but I thought more of the aspect of Rage rather than Music. Read more>>

Dominique Tate-williams

The name Afrocentric Kitty actually came to me before the business idea itself! It resonated so deeply that I can envision it growing beyond just a pet brand — maybe even evolving into a cartoon series or a children’s book. Who knows, it might become all three! In today’s pet products market, I’ve noticed a real gap when it comes to culturally inspired items that reflect the diverse backgrounds of pet owners. As a Black pet parent, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to find products that align with my cultural tastes and sensibilities, and that’s something I wanted to change. Read more>>

Kellie Tardif

Naming my business was not too difficult for me. When thinking about it I knew almost right away what it should be. My chosen boutique name, Lilli & Yve, comes from the names of my Memere’s (french for Grandmothers), Lillian & Yvette. These ladies were instrumental in raising me. Their signatures are the font that make up the beautiful logo. The chosen color blue represents their favorite color. Lillian passed away when I was nine. Yvette just passed away on October 21 of this year at the age of 94. Read more>>

Miranda Jenkins

When I was 21, moving into a new apartment, getting a dog was the last thing on my mind. But life had other plans. One night, I came home from a friend’s birthday party to a surprise—my roommate had brought home a tiny puppy! We had joked about naming a boy dog “Bam Bam” after The Flintstones, but since this little furball was a girl, “Pebbles” felt perfect. Pebbles and I bonded instantly. Before her, I loved being out and about, but suddenly, I had a reason—and someone special—to come home to. She taught me what unconditional love truly meant. Read more>>

Nasir Bell

Just being on social media a lot of my work starts directly from the internet Read more>>

Rashmi Dixit

In 2007, I made a bold decision to leave my corporate job at Colgate-Palmolive in search of more flexibility and control over my career. I ventured into the organizational development space, but like many entrepreneurs starting out, I had no clients and no clear roadmap. I knew I had to create something valuable, so I began designing a Leadership Development Program that could help businesses thrive. Read more>>

Porsh’a Marsh

Meeting my first kids yoga student during the Easter-themed class I held was an unforgettable experience. I remember the rush of excitement and joy as I welcomed the little one, knowing I was about to share the gift of yoga and movement with them. The energy in the room was filled with curiosity and innocence, and it felt magical to be able to introduce yoga in such a playful, creative way. As we moved through poses inspired by spring and Easter, watching their enthusiasm grow made my heart swell with pride. It was in that moment that I knew this was my purpose bringing the joy of yoga to children. It left me feeling incredibly fulfilled, like I was truly making a difference in their lives by nurturing their bodies, minds, and spirits through movement. Read more>>

India Jackson

My first client was through word of mouth. Someone had seen my friend and asked who did their braids and they referred them to me. That was one of my stepping stones to helping me realize I could actually make this a business. Read more>>

Ainsley Ericksen

Starting a business often follows a plan, but my first client came from something entirely unexpected—a chance conversation on a flight to a conference. Sitting next to me was a senior leader from a mining firm, passionate about the untapped potential of storytelling in his industry to attract investors. As we delved deeper into the impact of narrative in marketing, he inquired if I knew anyone who could spearhead such an initiative. With a mix of nerves and excitement, I took a deep breath and seized the moment to pitch myself. “I’m starting my own marketing consultancy,” I declared. Read more>>

Salina Singleton

Seven years ago, I took the plunge into entrepreneurship, officially starting what I always knew I was meant to do. Sure, I was that kid with the lemonade stand, but this time it was real. I had a logo, a website, business cards—everything. My goal was to build a network of online shows, starting with a hip hop web series “Who Got Next,” followed by podcasts, “Spicy Pecan” and “We Did That SH*T.” But to keep the dream alive, I had to make some money back from the equipment I had invested in. Read more>>

Lizbeth Benavides

My first client was a listing that was originally listed as a for sale by owner. I had seen a few videos talking about reaching out to FSBO to try and get the listing so I decided to give it a try. I reached out and at first he said he wasn’t interested, but then two days later he reached out and asked if I still wanted to list. I had no idea what I was doing, I had barelly had my license for about a month but I acted like I had been doing this for years. After about 60 days we went under contract and closed just in time for Christmas. I was extremely greatful for the opportunity that I had been given. After we closed I personally delivered his closing gift and told him how appreciative I was and confessed he was my first client ever. Certainly one for the books. Read more>>

Serena Harris

How I got my first client. When I first started doing lashes of course I had no clients I did start off just practicing on a mannequin head, friends and family but it got to a pint where I wanted to try practicing my craft on others that aren’t familiar with me. At the time I had no customer service skills I did not know how to speak to people I was not verbal i was not a people’s person but I knew working on my family members and staying in my comfort zone was not going to get me far so I decided to take models I would post me practicing my craft on friends or a mannequin I would go in ladies DM’s and ask around who would be interested in being my model for practice free of charge. Most of my models I had paid me some just posted and referred people to me. After a while majority of my clients became loyal clients that I still have till this day. Read more>>

Crystal Jarvis

When I launched Lettuce Grow Something in April 2018, I spent a lot of time offering free garden coaching and design consultations. This helped me refine my process for guiding future gardeners and secure reliable vendors for installing raised bed gardens. I was building my brand and sharing success stories on Instagram, which helped potential clients see the transformations I could offer. My first paying client found me through Instagram, and it was such an exciting moment for my business. They wanted a custom raised bed garden to not only beautify their backyard but also begin their journey toward growing their own food. I designed and installed a space tailored to their needs, and it remains one of my favorite projects. It wasn’t just about creating something visually appealing—it was about empowering someone to start their own garden adventure. That first dollar of revenue represented so much more than just income. It was the start of a fulfilling mission to help others grow food at home. Read more>>