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.

Marlon Gray

Empower U. is a double entendre based on the mission of the organization. As an organization that seeks to empower the individuals who seek to empower individuals affected by mental/behavioral health challenges and/or developmental disabilities, we examined our mission and value proposition to both stakeholders. Read more>>

Donise Johnson

I came up with the name of my company in grad school. I was in my final semester and the requirement to graduate was to make a professional website with a portfolio of your latest work. I explained to my professor that I was struggling to find a name with meaning but short and sweet. Read more>>

Nathan Bucher

It all kinda came together from the circumstances that led to me opening on my own I knew I wanted to create a something I could market and sell I brainstormed a few names with emblems/mascots and it all just felt right to do an octopus There were thoughts of a phoenix withe the whole rising from the ashes… but I’m not warm or a bird like that Read more>>

Lauren Schultz

I love this question, Radicle Healing came to be the name of my business because I really wanted to “get to the root” of the problem with clients. ‘Radicle’ is the primary root that develops form the seed. In my work, and previous to my career within the massage field I was always fascinated by the connection to our childhood, our emotional well being and how it relates to our present life. Read more>>

Agustina Garcia Laredo

“Land in the US” is precisely what I meant when I wanted a short and very clear name for what we do. We land foreign or new businesses for foreign customers in the US market by providing market studies and a complete set-up from the corporate structure to the production, logistics, warehousing, e-commerce, branding, communication, and launching. Read more>>

Alli Miller

Creating unique, local flair flavors of gourmet popcorn is fun and exciting and I wanted my business name to reflect that. I also wanted customers to feel like they are at a party, where every detail of the product and branding was thoughtful and themed. Read more>>

John M. O’Connor

Sorcery Cinema or Sorcery as we brand ourselves publicly came to be after we began seeking a fun and marketable title to represent ourselves by. Originally our ragtag group of filmmakers labeled ourselves as Lasersaures Rex. We were running the competition circuit for things like the 1917 one shot challenge and other similar competitions looking to show our prowess. Read more>>

Sara Heidinger

In the wake of a shutdown funeral home on the edge of the historic Old First Ward neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, Undergrounds Coffee House & Roastery was born. When we started to develop the concept of the coffeehouse we wanted to pay homage to what the building was before us and how it had served so many of the community members over decades of existence. Read more>>

Elizabeth Chaanine

I grew up in Eastern North Carolina (Morehead City), which many people refer to as ENC. Ironically, my initials are ENC. When I was trying to come up with a name for my business, I found that ENC Designs was very fitting, especially since I still live on the coast. I went back and forth between a multitude of names, but this one stuck with me. Read more>>

Madison Young

Oh, the story behind the name “Mindset Makeup Co.” is a journey close to my heart, filled with makeup brushes, laughter, and a whole lot of self-discovery. As a Travel Makeup Artist based in the sunny Orlando, Fl., I’m all about bringing out the beauty that goes beyond skin deep. Read more>>

Shalonda Vasquez

Sofia and Grace Cookie Company is named after my 8 year old twins. It all for them; something of their own. It wasn’t a hard decision to make at all. As a child, I loved baking with my grandmother and it’s something I enjoy with Sofia and Grace, Read more>>

Matthew Curran

MQ Media is short for Matt’s Quality Media based on a suggestion a mentor of mine told me a long time ago to give a name to my brand. Originally, it was supposed to be a stage name for a show I would be hosting, but after that fell through, I decided to keep the name as representative of my brand. It is also meant to be short, sweet, and easy to remember. Read more>>

Wendy Margolin

Among my best memories of connection are sharing stories and music around a campfire. First at summer camp and now with my family on camping trips. It’s not just me, though. Storytelling is literally in our genes. As far back as we discovered fire, we’ve benefitted from the power of storytelling. Read more>>

Ally Amore

Most photographers go with “insert name” Photography – or Visuals/Studios etc as a business name. My name is Ally but that is such a common name that I wanted to add something else to it that describes my work specifically and represents my brand. I love capturing love, whether that’s between newlyweds or mother and child or just self love. Read more>>

Meenakshi Bose

My blog’s name was easy to come up with. It is literally what I do! I’m a budget traveller who loves to travel light and take photos wherever I go and this is something I encourage all my readers to do, hence the name Backpacking with my lens. Read more>>

Amelia Jamerson

The number 18 holds a special place in my heart. Aside from being born on the 18th day, the digits also connect to the Hebrew word, “chai” (חי), which translates to life. The numerical value for “chai” is 18. Therefore, the number prompts me to link the value of life + love. To love is to live and it’s important to share and to practice that idea. Read more>>

BARBARA WILLIAMS

When deciding on a business name, I knew from the moment I started any business that it would have Christine in it; why, you may ask? Christine is a name that many share in my family. My Grandmother held the name, and when she gave birth to my mom, she also gave her that name. Read more>>

Shiquon Collier

Originally, Chocolate Covered operated under the name Delectable Edible Creations. I initially had concerns about the lengthiness, but I was adamant about keeping the acronym (D.E.C) which aligned with its status as a subsidiary of Designs and Events by Collier. Read more>>

Lanisha Thadison

When I initially came up with the name of my business, I didn’t know what the future would be for my business. I was initially expanding on a hobby to make more money to pay for my kid’s after-school activities. But I thought long about what I valued in life and what I would value in business. Read more>>

Bridget Furphy

When I was in beauty school in 2014, I decided I wanted to make a hair Instagram so I could show off everything I was learning during beauty school. I remember one of my fellow classmates, making fun of me for “making a hair page.” So I decided to name my Instagram “Basic hair page” it was both cliché and rememberable, so I ran with it. Read more>>

Stephanie Fritts

For over two decades, I served as an executive assistant, supporting some of the busiest leaders in Silicon Valley’s prominent startups. Among my fellow executive assistants, we jokingly referred to ourselves as “cat herders,” which it felt like most days. When it came time to choose a name for my own company, I realized that “cat herders” might not be clear to everyone. Read more>>

Alexa Hughes

About five years ago I became a pretty avid plant collector. Friends started to come to me asking for help with their plants – Why are my leaves yellow? – Why does my plant look so sad? – What am I doing wrong? – and to the best of my ability from my experience taking care of my plants, I would help them. One day, a friend asked me to help her pick out some new plants for her place because she had killed all of her previous plants. Read more>>

Amie Remsing

I’m Amie, an award-winning published photographer with a B.A in Fine Arts: Photography and the owner of Beloved Bliss Studios. Over the past ten years, I’ve developed my style, my love, & my passion for lifestyle photography. The name Beloved Bliss is derived from my name, Amie, meaning beloved, joined with the many blissful moments & events we experience throughout our life. Read more>>

Craig Waldman

I have always said that this lifestyle is one that chose me. My story started in my college years at Cal Poly where I found myself as a graphic design major but quickly involved myself in event planning for the student body. After being tasked with organizing concerts and shows for the university and surrounding town, I was able to secure several notable acts and artists for these performances. Read more>>

Paula Oblen

We’ve all heard that good ideas begin on a cocktail napkin…well, mine certainly did! I have always had a deep passion for how spaces and places make you feel…the immersive, emotional connection we discover when we enter a room or destination can be deeply visceral. Read more>>

Lorena Villegas

The Story Behind Our Name: Queens Exchange A nod to my upbringing in Queens, NY, our unique boutique goes beyond being just a place to shop. It embodies a vision, a sense of empowerment, and a commitment to community building. The name “Queens Exchange” encapsulates not only geographical ties but also the spirit of royalty and empowerment that I envision for everyone who steps into the shop. Read more>>

Kayin Griffith

Finding the perfect name for our business felt like putting the final brushstroke on a painting – elusive yet crucial. Our executive team spent eight weeks tossing around ideas, scouring domain names, checking social media handles, and researching competitors. We were on a quest for a name that not only encapsulated our brand but also resonated with our values and aspirations. Read more>>

Qianwen Chen

The journey to naming my brand ChicDev was deeply personal and reflected my own evolution both as a professional and as a fashion enthusiast. I started my career as a mobile app developer, working in the heart of the Bay Area. This tech-centric environment had its own unspoken dress code – the ubiquitous company t-shirts and hoodies. Read more>>

Bella Bucchiotti

I started xoxoBella in 2015 while I was still in high school as a food blog to share my favorite recipes and outfits with friends and family. It was popular to name your blog with things you liked at that time. For example, I was considering Tulle & Cookies. However, my mom suggested I pick a blog name to grow with me and my changing interests. Read more>>

Nina Brown

I have entertained several different names for my business before I settled on Camille’s Custom Creations. I wanted the name of my business to represent what I do while also incorporating a part of me. I decided to use my middle name, Camille, since I don’t use it often for any other purpose. Read more>>

Aime Alexander

My photo/business name is a bit of a grammatical juxtaposition – the general idea behind a photograph is that it freezes a moment in time, right? Well, while I have ultimately branched out beyond my initial photography niche over the last 15 years to include types of photo work that do indeed freeze moments in time, my first love and go-to will always be live music. Read more>>

Michelle “Mo” Ousset

Choosing the name “Maiden, Mother, Crone Photography” came about from my desire to connect with those looking to honor the beauty and strength inherent in every stage of life. I liked embracing the symbolism the architypes represent and their innate connection with each other. Read more>>

Lana Nelson

Our company, Code De Lys Creations, was founded in November 2021, following my hastened departure from another local flower shop (who will remain unnamed). A customer who had gone into the shop looking for me to make flowers for his wife, as that was how we had met, and instead was told that I had left. Read more>>

Rachel Sellick

Naming a business definitely isn’t as easy as people say it is. It sounds simple right? Pick a name you like; pick something that resonates with the industry…. but finding one you like is another story. I was really fortunate when it came to naming my business. Read more>>

Elizabeth Jacobi

I think the name gives it away. My dog is the reason I named my consultancy MochaBear Marketing. When I started to build my consulting business, I knew I wanted a name that people would ask me about. Before I started consulting, Mocha was in doggy daycare a few days a week, and they started calling her MochaBear because she looked like a teddy bear and is super sweet. Since she would now sit by my side daily with my consultancy, MochaBear Marketing was the perfect fit! Read more>>