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.

Dominique B.

Creatively Crafted Bartending. When I first starting looking into the mobile bartending industry I noticed a lot of businesses had very similar names. I wanted to be different and started thinking about the vision I had for my business. I wanted to make sure it represented both myself and my craft. I have always been known for being “the creative”. I like thinking outside the box, trying new things and standing out — and wanted to make sure my business did the same. Craft cocktails are an art and I get to be the artist. The combination of crafting cocktails with complex flavors and pairing them with aesthetically thought out garnishes that tie the cocktail together is what it’s all about. Creatively Crafted is dedicated to redefining the boundaries of mixology, prioritizing presentation, and crafting unforgettable experiences with every sip. Read more>>

Maria Elisa Cevallos

South Breeze Photography” is an homage to my roots and a cherished family memory. When I was young, my grandfather called me “Breeze,” a nickname that conveyed warmth and affection. Adding “South” was a way to honor my heritage, as I come from South America. Together, “South Breeze” represents who I am and where I come from, blending the essence of my past with memories of love and youth. Through my photography, I aim to capture the same warmth and nostalgia the name evokes, creating images that convey a sense of place, connection, and timelessness. Read more>>

Marissa Stahl

The name for Cherry Creative came from my middle name, “Cherry.” Cherry was my great-great-grandmother’s last name, Caroline Cherry. So while the name “Cherry Creative” is a cutesy name for an agency, it has a more personal meaning to me. Read more>>

Lauren Listor

My business name is Laurel Creative. No, my name is not “Laurel”- although MANY people think it is- for good reason. My name is Lauren Listor. When I started my business back in high school, I used to be called by my name. First name + last name + photography. But as my company grew and grew I knew that I didn’t want my employees and subcontractors to work under a business that was a first and last name… I wanted to be a collective. I wanted to be a group. I wanted to all work together under the same company. So although, yes, I do own Laurel Creative Agency, I love that the business name is not my first and last name as I feel like we are all working together for the same company under one mission and goal. Read more>>

Jennifer Lynch

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate, I volunteer for CASA of Travis County. My role is to support children in the Child Protective Services system. Whether from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse -or all three- these young people sometimes lose sight of their value. I didn’t. Too often, a child would ask me, “Why do you like me?’ No child should ever question their worth. I responded, “You Are Good.” I told them the many ways they were unique.  I realized these three small words made a significant impact on their self-image. There is so much power in telling them they are good! You Are Good became more than a slogan or tagline. It’s a mission to instill worth in every child. I created clothing and notecards with the message so we can remind ourselves and others that we are all valued. YOU ARE GOOD…..lovable and perfect, just the way you are! Read more>>

Nicole Golden

When the 2020 pandemic hit, life got very dark for the residents of Peach Hill. Especially for the children in the neighborhood. I joined forces with a few moms to create events in the community that were safe and brought positive energy and fun. We were recognized in local news outlets for events such as the Moorpark Halloween House Decorating Contest, Spooky Car Parade, and Shamrock Hunts. From then on, I knew whatever I set out to do would have a positive impact on my family and others. Peach Hill in Moorpark is where it all began; it would only be prudent to give my community the recognition it deserves. Hence, the bright side in life became “Just Peachy Life!” Read more>>

Kelsey Reidl

It’s a bit of a crazy story that involves Hiking in Peru, Justin Bieber, and having JUST been let go from my dream job! Here’s a snippet… I was hiking in Peru (walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu) when it happened — 💡 a spark of an idea ignited and I knew I needed to start my own community and eventually, launch a business. To set the scene, I was listening to 🎵 Justin Bieber on hour #7 of our daily trek to see Machu Picchu. On hour #7 of my trek, I was… Exhausted from a multi-day trek, Covered in dirt & dust after multiple days with no shower, But I was also more inspired than I had EVER been before. My mind felt clear, and I was excited for the next chapter of my life after having JUST been let go from my dream job working in Marketing for a major health food company. Read more>>

Chae Song

I love starting my day with a good cup of coffee, but I often find that time and cost can get in the way. Living in New York, I’ve seen how expensive it can be to grab coffee from cafes regularly, which isn’t feasible for everyone. That got me thinking about creating something accessible. We named our brand KimlyParc with this in mind. The name is inspired by a Korean expression that uses the common last names ‘Kim, Lee, and Park(김이박)’ to represent ‘everyone.’ Our hope is that KimlyParc can be a coffee that everyone can enjoy and feel connected to—like ‘people’s coffee.’ Read more>>

Brandon Cain

Coming up with a name for my company was quite the adventure—a blend of disc golf rounds, caffeine, and a few late-night brainstorming sessions that could rival writing a 30 page thesis paper. I wanted something funny and memorable, a name that would stick in consumers’ minds, which is easier said than done! The breakthrough came during a particularly wet round of disc golf with friends. As we struggled to keep our discs from slipping through our fingers—turning our attempts to throw into a hilarious spectacle—I realized there was a kernel of inspiration in that chaos. Amid the laughter and good-natured ribbing, the word “Slippery” popped into my head. It embodied that unforgettable day filled with laughter and camaraderie. Read more>>

Jasmine Kazera

So, interestingly enough my business actually started as a travel blog titled, “Traveling Through Life with a Wine Glass Half Full”. My blog discusses travel advice, tips, and stories all from the positive perspective (glass half full). Eventually my blog started to gain some traction and I thought to myself how great it would be to expand and start offering products on my website. Once I gave it some thought, Wineglasses came to mind (I mean, it was all in the title). This was how “A Wine Glass Half Full” was born. Eventually the wineglasses took off on their own and the blog and glasses were like two separate businesses. Read more>>

Ruby Oland

My business is named Rabbit Brush Goods. Rabbit Brush is the common name for Ericameria nauseosa, also known as Chamisa. It grows in large, lovely, mustard flowered bushes across the high desert of Northern New Mexico, as well as other arid regions of North America. When I started my business I had gone through multiple names that didn’t quite work out. Luckily, my branding was minimal and I only purchased one LLC for $100. While brainstorming what the next incarnation would be, Rabbit Brush hopped into my mind. Perhaps it seems a bit random. After all, when you google “rabbit brush”, you mostly find pictures or Reddit columns about combs for bunnies. That being said, we are the only hair care company that pops up under that name, and it sets us apart. Read more>>

Rachel Park

The name of our brand, Woo U, means “milk” in Korean. My dog, Ansel, loved milk so much that it inspired me to start making treats with milk as a primary ingredient. At first, I created treats that were more than 90% milk, so it felt essential to include “milk” in the name. As this homemade treat gradually developed into a business idea, I adjusted the recipe to align with commercial standards. To enhance the treats’ shelf life, I needed to reduce the milk content, so the current treats contain less milk than the original recipe. At one point, I considered changing the business name to reflect this adjustment. However, the concept for these treats began with milk, and although the milk content is lower than in the first batches, it remains one of the primary ingredients in our current treats. Most importantly, Ansel’s love for milk inspired the entire idea, so I chose to keep the name. Read more>>

Lynzi Judish

The name of my business itself is my name, but for social media and specifically my main account is Lynzi Living. As far as branding goes, I felt like, for me, it’s really important to simply use my name because it’s unique and I want anything branded to me in the future tied to my name. I don’t know what the future holds or what that might be, but I do know that I want my actual name attached to anything and everything I do. Read more>>

Ali Dempsey

When I was brainstorming names for my blog, I wanted something that reflected timeless beauty, resilience, and growth—qualities I believe are central to both skincare and the community I wanted to build. The word amaranthine comes from “amaranth,” a flower known in Greek mythology for its unfading beauty and long-lasting nature. It perfectly captures the essence of enduring wellness and beauty that goes beyond fleeting trends. Read more>>

Jini Veenker

Jini Kimchi is a play on my maiden name (Jini Kim). I added the “chi” to the end of Kim because I love kimchi and it is an
playful nod to my heritage. Kimchi is a powerful, potent, nutritious staple of Korean cuisine. Our cuisine is magical. Growing up watching my umma cook, she always intentionally used ingredients that were packed with nutritious, detoxifying contents. I like to see my artwork similarly to Korean cuisine. I contain myself with my work until I work out various intents and details. That is why a lot of my work isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. For example, “Phrog,” one of my bestselling pieces, displays a tiny little desert rain frog relaxing in the rain. The frog is not smiling. It is under the ground in its domain with the worms. Although the tiny frog is grumpy, its face is addictively adorable. “Phrog” strikes a chord because it is so relatable. We are all often grumpy little things just doing our best.  Read more>>

Roshni Dutt

I grew up in Kolkata, India in a multigenerational household with my grandparents and cousins. Kolkata is one of the best food cities in India and food was at the center of everything in our household. My grandmother was an incredible cook and she loved getting the family together over the delicious dishes she made. Dinner time was sacred and all family members needed to be present before we started eating. Conversations revolved around food ranging from what we were eating for dinner tomorrow to what restaurant our next family outing would be at. That’s really where my love for food began. The happiest memories I have are at a dinner table surrounded by the people I love. Read more>>

Adam Galek

The naming of things is always tough. The name of the business (pronounced The Galaxy) is a play on words with my last name, Galek. Most of my collages, especially early on, have themes of the moon and space, so it seemed very fitting. I also wanted a name that wasn’t going to be limiting, like Galek’s Greeting Cards. Keeping the name on the vague side of things allows for it to evolve and expand more easily into things you can’t necessarily predict when you start the business. Read more>>

Jayde Marie Villeroel

Naming a business is so hard, and my business name wasn’t always Happy Place Cookiery. In fact, I started with two other names before landing on this one. The first was Jayde’s Sweets, which I used for only a few months. The second, Lunar Love Cookie Co., lasted a little longer—about two years—but, despite both names being perfectly fine, they never felt quite right. They never really stuck. When people would ask about the name back then, my answer was usually something like, “My name is Jayde, and I make sweets,” or “I love the moon, and I bake cookies.” While those answers seemed completely justifiable when I was 17 and just starting out—especially with my mom’s loving encouragement—they didn’t feel truly representative of what I wanted my business to be. Read more>>