What’s in a name? A lot apparently, as entrepreneurs, artists, and makers of all kinds spend enormous amounts of energy searching for the right name for their business, project, organization, or creation. Below, you’ll find the stories of how various successful brands, creators and entrepreneurs came up with their names.

Carolyn Wiley

The name Rose and Pearl Publishing is deeply personal and symbolic for me. Both roses and pearls carry significant meaning in my life and faith. The rose represents beauty, resilience, and growth. It reminds me of how God brings beauty from the thorns in our lives—the struggles and challenges that shape us. Every rose blooms in its own time, just as each story deserves its moment to blossom and inspire others. Read more>>

Mikel Melwasul

There are three names associated with my writing. My Author Name: Mikel Melwasul. My book title: Paragon Exordium.
My Publishing Company: May You Walk Under Blue Skies Publishing. Names are very important to me and I’ve always believed in their power and symbolism. So, when I decided to start writing I chose to use a pen name for a variety of reasons. I wanted something with good alliteration, that would stick in people’s head’s as unique and that sounded fantastical. But, I also wanted to use my first name so I would already be programed to respond to it. Read more>>

Gabriella Vigoreaux

I feel like the name of our business answers a lot of thee questions posed in these topics. When my wife was a child her family was always calling her a “Bandida” for doing things she wasn’t supposed to be doing or whenever she was being mischievous. From the day we started looking for a brick and mortar we had a lot of things fall through because people tried to tell us our concept wasn’t “complete” or didn’t make sense. All we wanted to do was make good food using seasonal ingredients that tell a story. We quickly realized that if we didn’t want to compromise our vision, then we were gong to have to do everything ourselves (with the help of family). It felt like swimming against the current, but it also felt like staying true to ourselves. Once a bandida, always a bandida I suppose. Read more>>

Jena Sanchez

My business name – Magix In The Makeup – comes from the No Doubt song of the same name, just spelled differently. Gwen Stefani was a huge fashion and beauty influence on me as a girl growing up in the 90s. I loved how she experimented with different styles and had this dope mix of feminine & masculine, classy & grungy. I fully wore the space buns & did the face jewels and everything. That being said, the album “Return of Saturn” is my all-time favorite No Doubt album, so when I was thinking of a name for my business, this seemed like a no-brainer. Read more>>

Kimberly Johnston

GRACE BLOOM FARM Naming a business is a nuanced and personal process, and for me, it’s deeply intertwined with my life story. My husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, gave me the nickname “Grace” after an incident during “Senior Skip Day.” I tripped and tumbled down the porch stairs, breaking my arm just before my high school graduation and SATs. To lighten the moment, he jokingly said, “Way to go, Grace!”—and the name stuck. Now, more than 36 years later, it remains a special moniker for both my husband and me, symbolizing my (often) clumsy nature. But that’s not the only reason I chose to name the farm Grace Bloom Farm. Read more>>

Kristal Hollingsworth

In 2015, I found myself overwhelmed by social anxiety and the chaos of raising 4-year-old triplets. Every day felt like a whirlwind, and the thought of venturing out alone with my boys was paralyzing. But something had to change. So, I made a small, courageous decision: I would create monthly adventures to push myself out of my comfort zone. At first, the outings were simple and close to home—a trip to the park or the library. Month by month, I stretched a little further, gaining confidence with every step. Eventually, I could navigate outings with my triplets solo. With my husband’s demanding Monday-to-Friday job, that meant I was often on my own. These small adventures became our lifeline, especially during the pandemic years when life felt uncertain. Read more>>

Jensen Lang

I wanted to create a space that felt cozy, welcoming, and full of charm—something that captured the warmth of a home while embracing the character of Nashville. ‘The Nashville Cottage’ just felt right—it’s simple, warm, and perfectly captures the vibe I was going for. It’s all about creating a space where people feel at home, whether they’re here for a shoot or just soaking in the charm. I wanted the name to reflect the experience I hope people have when they step into the space. Read more>>

Traci Kenmuir

I came up with my business name as Traci K Designs, to reflect myself and the fact that I design and hand-make my own products. This option also allowed me flexibility to grow as I first started out in 2021 to explore different mediums to create with. Over the last few years I’ve explored from using my Cricut for custom orders, to polymer clay to make handmade earrings, and this year I’ve expanded to sewing. I will likely rebrand including a new business name, so keep an eye out for the next exciting chapter! Read more>>

Bryn Carter-brown

When people first hear the name “What She Said” many immediately think of Michael from ‘The Office’ but the name actually came to fruition for a few reasons. One was the fact of whenever my co-founder and I hear of great referrals from friends, there was a common phrase used, for example, – “Do you remember the therapist Sarah referred? She said she was so thoughtful and kind and really dove in with her on her trauma…” There was the commonality of “she said” this or “that’s what she said about so-and-so” and so when we thought about what name best fit how women refer others in their lives, what she said had such a strong fit. Read more>>

Rachael Ahle

The name of Passion Coffee Co. was no easy choice, but when I knew it, it was undeniable. Some back story on me – as a kid I always had a hard time naming things. Whether it was a painting, a team name, or even a stuffed animal. So when I eventually grew up and pursued running a small business, naming it was no joke. That’s almost the most important part, right? Read more>>

Savannah Moody

When I was thinking about the name for my company, I knew I wanted it to reflect the core mission behind everything I do: helping small businesses and entrepreneurs achieve their goals. The name had to convey the idea of success, progress, and results. With services like website design, social media management, and photography, my focus is always on empowering others to achieve their vision and see real growth. Read more>>

Vic Balarezo

The name of my company, Basted Cuisine, was inspired by my background in French cuisine. Many of the restaurants I’ve worked at have French roots, and in French, “baste” translates to “arroser,” which means to coat in fat. This technique is a cornerstone of my cooking style—using aromatics and butter to baste proteins and certain dishes, enhancing their flavor and sealing in their natural juices. It’s a simple yet powerful method that reflects the essence of the dishes I create and the passion I bring to every meal. Read more>>

Heather Plant

It actually took me a few years to come up with the name as I was searching for something that really tapped into the essence of what I do. I was searching for the perfect name and was really struggling to find it until I happened to attend my very first herbal related business course at a conference. I was sitting in class and all of a sudden the name finally came to me… Magical Plants. Read more>>

Kimberly Quiros

Naming a business is definitely a challenge, but for me, the name MyPerlitas felt like it was meant to be. The inspiration came from a pearl necklace my mother designed 10 years ago, our “floating perlita,” which holds deep sentimental value for the women in my family. I knew the name had to include “my” because this is my first business—something deeply personal. But “My Pearl” didn’t feel special enough, so I thought about how, in Colombian culture, we add -ita to words to make them more endearing. That’s how “Perlita” came to life, and adding the “s” made it feel complete, representing all the women who inspire me. My mom and I like to think my grandmother sent the name to me from heaven—it all came together so effortlessly, like it was meant to be. This name reflects my roots, the resilient women in my family, and the love that goes into every piece of our jewelry. Read more>>

Audra Thurman

The name of our brand is Yet Lovely, with a mission that simply states, “there is still lovely to be found”.Yet Lovely is from a scripture in the Bible, Song of Solomon 1:5, “Dark am I, yet lovely.” The speaker of this verse is King Solomon’s bride. She is not of royal descent. In fact, far from it. She grew up tending + working the fields with her brothers. A Shulamite bride- just an ordinary farm girl- yet chosen to be the wife of a king. Read more>>

 

 

Elyse Garlock

As co-founders and husband & wife, naming our business felt like a daunting task – it was difficult enough agreeing on names for our four children. We wanted something that reflected our vision, resonated with our audience, and stood the test of time. But the process turned out to be far more complex than we initially imagined. Company names are tricky—more than just a word or two, they have to encapsulate an idea. They need to be memorable, easy to pronounce and spell, and culturally neutral, while still sparking curiosity. We also had to ensure the name wasn’t already taken—both the domain for the website and social media handles needed to be available. Many of our favorite ideas fell through because of conflicts with these factors. Read more>>

Becky Avery

That’s an easy one. When I founded my home organization company, I knew I wanted to change the way someone might think of hiring home organizational help. I wanted to create a space where anyone needing help could feel free from judgement. And, I knew it was important for me to be someone they could lean on. Those words struck me and I wondered: how can I be someone others can “lean on? Read more>>

Timothy Tran

The story behind “Neverless” comes from a deep personal belief — a refusal to settle for anything less than the best in every aspect of life. It began as a simple idea, inspired by the countless moments when people are faced with compromise, whether in their careers, relationships, or personal goals. We wanted to create a brand that would remind people they are worthy of more, that they are capable of achieving greatness without ever having to “settle.” Read more>>

Megan Baker

The name Think Strategically came to life after a career-defining conversation. Shortly after I left my corporate role as Chief Marketing Officer in late 2023, a mentor reached out to me. She’d just stepped into a new leadership position, managing a massive team. Her challenge? “I love my team, but they’re not strategic. They’re stuck in the weeds, checking boxes instead of driving real client growth. It’s holding us back from achieving the growth we need as a company. I know you’ve helped your teams shift to a more strategic approach—I need you to help mine.” Read more>>