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.

Fatima’s Baklawa

I would like to express my gratitude for this wonderful opportunity. It is a privilege to share our story with new readers. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Diana, the founder of this small family business driven by a profound love and appreciation for my husband’s Northern African culture. The moment I tasted baklawa for the first time, I fell in love with its exquisite flavor and the skills required to create these amazing pastries by hand. Selecting a name for our business was undoubtedly a challenging task. It was my desire to choose a name that would authentically represent the business, and not be a mere extension of myself. I wanted our business to have its own identity. I firmly believe that the name “Fatima’s Baklawa” exudes warmth, familiarity, and transcends border barriers. I want our clients to understand that, regardless of their origins, our homemade desserts extend an invitation to experience “A Sweet Day, Every Day.” Read more>>

Dr. Joi Brown

As a child, I grew up believing in the “I Can” mantra. I could achieve anything that I set my mind to and dreams can come true. I was told by my grandma and later confirmed by others that I am a Joi to this world. Read more>>

Roberta Perry

Every time someone asks me how we got our name, it makes me think of my late sister, Michelle. She is the one who named it.

I had just started making the sugar scrub for myself, but my sister wanted to sell it. She had a retail background and was out on disability for a knee problem at the time so she was looking for something to do. I agreed and we signed up for our first craft fair. She and I spent hours mixing and jarring the first batch for sale. Read more>>

Cari Ayers

I came up with Lilac Flame Co. in honor of my mom. She loved all things candles, and her favorite flower was the lilac. Also, her name was Delilah (which I have also passed on to my daughter) and it sort of incorporates her nickname “Lilah” in it as well. I lost my mom in 2007, but I know she would be my absolute biggest fan and supporter. Read more>>

Christina & Eddie Sledge

We started our business with the goal of only publishing our memoir, The Story of Christina and I; until we realized we wanted to develop more books of multiple genres, screenplays, audio, TV / streaming and film projects which all fall under media. Our last name is Sledge and we started our business at home so, we called the business, Sledge House Media! Read more>>

Carol Ward

There are many types of consultants out there, especially in the arts sector. From people who specialize in assisting clients to buy art, to conservators for museums, to interior decorators and beyond. Read more>>

Nikki Estes

In 2008, our brand’s inception was sparked by a pivotal moment in the evolution of online transactions. At that time, software vendors distributed updates via CDs, and online payments were predominantly synonymous with credit cards. Fueled by the vision of revolutionizing transaction processing, we coined iCheckGateway.com. Read more>>

Taaj Jones

Simply Sojourn is built on the same values Sojourner Truth spent her life upholding through her advocacy. Because of her diligent efforts (and efforts by many other Black women-identifying activists), Black people and women can now enjoy the finer things in life. As a Black woman myself, I acknowledge the privilege we now have to go on trips and take a break from our everyday responsibilities to simply be happy. Read more>>

Ellie Thor

There is a lot of pressure naming your business, you want a name that embodies your company, is memorable, and stands out against other companies. Read more>>

Kamaya Primm

I came up with my business name by thinking of something I was passionate about and thinking of something that I love to be. The word “Klassie or Classy “symbolizes the aesthetic image my business shows with every candle. The word ” Kandle or Candle” is just describing exactly what my business sells. I also sell wax melts and other products. However, making candles is what I do! Each word starts with the letter “K” because as the owner and founder of Klassie Kandles LLC, I want my business to be different. My name is Kamaya which also starts with the letter “K”. I am the face of my brand and my image. Read more>>

Brandon Lindo

A name is identity. A name is sacred, like my name or your name. It’s what we are known as and depending, what you are known for. When I was in the process of deciding the name for my clothing brand, I had several that came to mind. At first, I was set on the name HRTG, which stood for Heritage minus the vowels. My initial reasoning was to use my original artwork to highlight not only my own, but all of the cultures that influenced me throughout my life. During very careful research, I encountered a company that used the word Heritage in their name so I had to go back to the drawing board. This time I dug down deeper, revisited my mission statement, prayed on it, and I was able to decide on a name for my clothing brand. I decided to call my brand My Visionz Clothing Brand based on the values of what I am to achieve. Which is to build connections through our unique visions. Ever been to a museum? People from all different walks of life, different cultures can gather and connect with each other sharing their perspectives on the art that is on display. I wish the same for the the art that I display on my clothing. To inspire conversation of perspectives to build connections to challenge all of the things that divide us. Read more>>

Alannah Johnson

The world would not be what it is without fungi. Fungi play a vital role in many ecosystems, such as breaking down waste from plant and animal debris (side note – the world would be a very smelly place without this service!) to transporting and cycling nutrients from that process and others back into soils so that they are readily available for plants, micro and macro organisms, and other fungi. In that respect, fungi are the foundation for all life on earth and are champion organisms in that they can regenerate soils and create new earth; hence where I came up with the name New Earth Fungi. It’s perfect! :) Read more>>

Samantha Eck

Firestorm Finance originally started as Freedom Finance. I wanted my bookkeeping business to sound like I was there to help you somehow. After going through the application process for my LLC, I was told that I could not use Freedom Finance as someone else in Texas was using that same name. I sat with my thoughts for three days, mulling over what I wanted my business name to be. I knew two things. I wanted it to be alliterative, and I wanted it to have some form of deeper meaning. After much thought and research, I came up with Firestorm Finance, and I chose this name for a few reasons. First, I decided it because accounting and business finances can sometimes feel like you are in the middle of a firestorm. There is so much going on that you feel overwhelmed and sometimes even frustrated. So, instead of letting yourself think this way, Firestorm Finance is the firefighter that puts out those firestorms and helps you to see the clarity in your numbers. The second reason was because of my faith. Biblically, fire is meant to represent a form of purification and transformation, and I knew that by working with me, we would be transforming your numbers and helping you step out of that fire into a changed business. Read more>>

Matt Marion

My Company name while it has changed over the years has always been centered around the Aperture. From originally including my initials G4 to currently Aperture House. For those who don’t know what an Aperture is it’s the diaphragm opening inside of a lens that allows light to reach the sensor/film, to create an image. I’ve always used Aperture in my name because I believe we are vessels that allow God to bring light into the lives of each other, and I’ve always wanted to use my camera to deliver that light! There’s enough darkness in the the world we can be the aperture! Read more>>

Deborah Young

It’s funny because I encounter the question a lot: how did you come up with the name “Headphone Thoughts”? So, basically, it came to me one day as I was looking at my headphones and contemplating how much I ponder life. The term “Headphone Thoughts” just popped into my mind, and that’s how the name originated. I wanted to transform my blog into a world of my thoughts, sharing them every day. I’ve truly enjoyed blogging, especially as someone who used to carry headphones everywhere and loves listening to music. Read more>>

Gina Gallaun

I had done this really cool and adventurous thing of quitting my job, going on a world trip, interviewing women around the world on what courage had looked like in their lives and published a 30 day journal with real courage stories and journaling prompts from women around the world. I felt inspired writing their stories and had so much fun creating the journal – but when it came to naming the business I was publishing the journals through, I felt stuck! Read more>>

Angela Norton

When I was brainstorming the name for my company, I really wanted it to reflect my mission. You see, my goal isn’t just to provide bookkeeping services to business owners; it’s also about teaching people how to be financially successful. So, originally, I thought of naming it “Counting Seeds Collective.” Read more>>

Rajdeep Chatterjee

Oh, you bet naming something, especially your own business, is a real head-scratcher! In India, we’ve got this saying, “naam me kya rakha hai” (What’s in the name), but when you’re starting something from scratch, that name becomes your identity, right? Read more>>

Claudia Garza

5 years ago, I moved to sunny San Diego in search for a new beginning and career. I was 32 years old at the time, I had left a 10 year relationship that wasn’t serving me. I was lost and felt so alone. I began taking myself out on dates, healing, trying to make new friends. Shortly after I moved I joined a reiki class and met some amazing people. One of those people introduced me to a metaphysical shop and I remember going in and seeing a woman doing tarot readings, I browsed the store and picked out my first oracle deck, the deck happened to have wolves on the front cover. Read more>>

Amie Santiago

Weirdly enough, I believe that my name came pretty easy to me. AmieArtistry, the Amie part I feel like should be self explanatory. If you look up “Artistry”, it means “creative skill and ability.” Further than that, synonyms include words like, “talent, flair, brilliance, accomplishment. ” Art is known for allowing the audience to feel a sense of emotion, and connection to whatever form they may be experiencing. i pride myself on producing art, and allowing my love for what i do, to be showcased & specifically tailored for every client. This is not just some regular beauty industry thing to me. I’m privileged and feel truly blessed to connect to my clients that walk through my door and grace me with the ability to bring their desires to life. I wanted to include my name in my business because I feel like stamping your name on anything that you commit to, holds weight. you have one in this THIS life and I wanted to make sure that mine was known for more than just someone who did lashes, or brows. AmieArtistry has always been about creating a personalized, cultivating experience that made you feel comfortable, and welcomed no matter what path of life you walk. The capacity to indulge yourself in self-care, and taking steps into self love. Read more>>

Ronica Owens

Growing up our family had at least 3 or 4 dogs at a time. Birthing the name Three To Four Dogs. The why… We were given dogs to care for while some just showed up at our door. We gladly welcomed them into our family. Although we loved dogs, we kept them outdoors. We fed them table scraps and the cheapest dog food. We did not buy dog treats. We saved bones from family cookouts or from our dinner while dining out. Not until I became an adult and a dog parent did I want an inside dog. I learned table scraps were not healthy and dogs just can’t eat anything, especially bones. Fast forward to today my Rottweiler Maxx is my only dog. He is an inside dog, and I make his dog treats. The first time I bought Maxx a treat he had the worst gas and a liquid bathroom break. I threw the rest of the treats away and went to Pinterest to look for recipes. I loved to cook for my family, Maxx is family, I can cook for him. I learned what dogs could and could not eat, what’s toxic and what can kill them. From there I started testing recipes on by Maxx. He loved most and spit out the rest. His favorite so far is dehydrated yellow snapper. One year later we added food toppers and bone broth, thanks to Maxx. Read more>>

Caleb Henry

The core foundation of Scaler Content and Vow & Tie has and always be one thing, creativity. That being said, how co-founder Ryan Moline and I came up with the names for both companies was not as “creative” as some might imagine. Read more>>

Vaishali Vig

Livalya transcends being a mere business label; it’s a narrative that reflects our values and vision. The name itself is a careful amalgamation of meaningful elements. The prefix “Liv” is drawn from the word ‘lifestyle,’ signifying our commitment to embodying a unique way of life. On the other hand, “Alya” in Hindi translates to a dwelling or house, symbolizing the space we aspire to create for our audience – a house of lifesyle. Read more>>

Zenobia Young

In the vast landscape of business, every company name carries a unique story, and ours is no exception. As the creator of Xyler + Kylo, a vibrant and inspirational company, the genesis of our name intertwines with the playful spirit of my two toddler boys, Xyler and Kylo. It all began with the realization that the company was more than just a business venture; it was an extension of our family. As I brainstormed for a name that captured the essence of the brand, my attention turned to the two little muses running around my home. The boys, Xyler and Kylo, are not only bundles of energy but, also tower above their peers in height. It became evident that their names held a certain charm and uniqueness that mirrored the aspirations of the company. Xyler and Kylo’s towering presence in our lives served as a metaphor for the impact we envisioned for our brand. Read more>>

Season Jacobs

“waXon on Fuzz Off” is a clever twist on “wax on, wax off,” injecting humor and catchiness. It’s not just about applying and removing wax; our mission is crystal clear — it’s all about getting that Fuzz Off! We are located just outside of Dallas on I-35, a prominent highway. With a constant flow of daily commuters, our storefront is strategically positioned to capture the attention of the countless daily passersby. The aim? To have our name speak volumes, ensuring that everyone who glances our way instantly understands what we’re all about. Read more>>

Christopher Taulbee

In 2017, upon graduating UC’s DAAP program, I founded my company, Taul Arts Studio, that provides a variety of Fine Art services including portraiture/painting, murals, custom ceramics, logos, fine art consultation and education. After seeing how many different types of commissions I had coming in, I realized that I needed some type of branding that described the whole umbrella of services I was providing. I came up with the name “Taul Arts Studio” as a play on my last name and the type of work I like to make. My last name is, “Taulbee”, pronounced, “tall”-“bee”. Tall is also a reference to the muralism, and the type of studio painting that I do, which are five to six feet tall oil paintings of flowers. A leggy bee is also a very funny notion. “Arts” being plural and “studio” being singular was a very intentional decision. Many times you’ll see larger companies brand themselves as studios becuase they consist of many artsists in a single studio or many studios with many artists. The naming of my company refers to the fact that my medium is varied but my studio is singular. Read more>>

Ben Ratner

Our cafe is called LiB’s Market. We’re a cafe & specialty coffee roastery. My wife and I set out to have a community driven space that we could express ourselves through, support our family with and eventually have it be a resource for them in some way in the future. We had seen how couples/partnerships found unique ways of integrating an aspect of their names into their business name to help convey that we stand behind our products and services. So at first we just combined the names “Lindsay” and “Ben” but soon realized our young daughter’s names fit in as part of an acronym as well as our family dog, “Snoopy.” Read more>>

Molly Nutt

My last name is Nutt, which came with its own set of unique experiences growing up – there were some creative kiddos on the playground! Albeit, my last name helped me develop a sense of humor from a young age. As I got older, I became grateful for my last name. It was a great conversation starter, left an impression, and is a tough one to forget. Read more>>

Samantha Wolf

My production company is called Wildwood Lane Productions. It’s named after the street my late aunt lived on. My aunt Karen was a cartographer, photographer, documentarian, painter, singer and spiritual healer. She traveled often, returning with incredible stories and art pieces from places like Croatia, Zimbabwe, and Morroco. Even after her death, she continues to be a large creative inspiration for me. She approached every aspect of life with an openness and genuine curiosity that was absolutely magnetic. She cherished her life on Wildwood Lane, in a cabin-style house right next to a creek, filled with art and, often, guests. Read more>>

Claynita Hill

Authenticity is one of my personal values and I knew I wanted to encompass that with my brand, Claydsgns. After rebranding about 2 years ago, I decided that I wanted the name to be memorable, unique, and a representation of me, a multifaceted creative. Incorporating my name, Clay, is a direct reflection of me, adds a genuine touch, and establishes a personal connection to the work I produce. This connection fosters trust and a sense of familiarity, which is vital in the design industry where client relationships play a major role. Combining “Clay” and “designs” communicates the essence of my business – design work by Clay and also seamlessly blends my personal identity with the design aspect of my brand. It communicates that the designs I create are not generic, but crafted and personalized by me. Claydsgns tells my story. Read more>>

Kimberly Carson

I named it after my daughter Colette and my love for all things French. I use a highly coveted French skincare line called Biologique Recherché and my studio is French themed. So Colette seemed fitting. Read more>>

Tay Sangiorgio

Absolutely! Naming a brand can be a challenging yet exciting process. For me, the journey began during my college days while studying fashion merchandising and design. I was passionate about creating something unique, and the desire to find the perfect name for my brand consumed me. Read more>>

Sherene Strausberg

Nine years ago, I took a leap of faith and left my full-time job to establish my own company. Faced with the task of choosing a name for my graphic design venture, I wanted something unique, memorable, and with an available URL. Despite being a solo entrepreneur initially, I decided against using my own name. Instead, I delved into significant numbers in my life, leading me to consider “1731 Designs” based on my former Los Angeles address, where I first started learning graphic design. However, concerned that it might be misconstrued as the year 1731, I hesitated. Read more>>

Niko Suave

I came up with the name out of being spontaneous, like I didn’t want to let barbering be the only description to my brand. I have so many other things I’m working on. So much more in the works, so much more on the way. So a more universal yet still unique name that’ll be appropriate for any and everything I wanna do. Read more>>

Alison Maloni

It took me a long time to pull the trigger and start my public relations agency. But coming up with the name did not take much time at all. Read more>>

 Jenifer Ross

Many moons ago when I was 25 I picked up a copy of Ken Dykwald’s book Age Wave – which explored the profound effects of our aging population, and the changing demographics that go with it, and how this “wave” was going to affect every aspect of society – – -and this book changed my whole life/work trajectory. Read more>>