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.

Kalima Crooks

When i was in massage school we was taking a business course,they asked us to come up with a name i choose “guided Hands” originally i wanted to work with children teaching them how to relax ,then i was like i wanna work with family doing massage & doula work and i can guided them into relaxation,teach them intimacy in a no. Sexual way .away we can relax the mind body and soul cause in today’s world we get so stuck in the chaos we just surviving through it .but if i can teach us how to heal through massage and a holistic lifestyle it would change the next generation. Read more>>

Kristin Kienzle

“Utopia” is defined as an imaginary place, or state of things, where everything is perfect, and that word really sets the tone for what I wanted to create. It reflects the vibe, the culture, and the level of experience we aim to deliver every day. After that, I wanted the rest of the name to be clear and direct, so there’s no confusion about what we do. “Modern” speaks to our clean, elevated aesthetic and forward-thinking mindset. “Salon” is obvious and important, and “Suites” is our branding term that tells people these are private, individual studios where beauty professionals can run their own business. The full name tells you exactly what to expect, while “Utopia” captures how it feels. Read more>>

Nicole Rippee

The idea for HELLO SHADE was born on a sweltering drive to Palm Springs in August 2024. My friend Shannon and I were headed into the desert heat, both trying (and failing) to protect our arms from the sun. I had picked up a pair of cheap, scratchy sun sleeves from a random internet retailer, and Shannon had cut up her daughter’s neon yellow leggings as a DIY solution. We looked ridiculous—and felt even worse. Read more>>

Sally King McBride

My company centers around names (I customize clients’ names in 20 different letter themes), and so coming up with a name for my *own* brand was especially important. I thought of “The Letter Nest” while taking a walk during my lunch break from my position at The Metropolitan Museum in 2017. I knew my brand name had to serve two purposes: it needed to be somewhat visual, and it needed to evoke the process of hand-picking letters for your product. I was saying aloud the different contenders to test them out: “The Letter Hive,” “The Letter Bee”…thankfully I landed on “The Letter Nest”—which I loved for its association with nesting, the home, and the nursery. Read more>>

Dr. David Martin

Martin’s Empowerment Group was born from pain, growth, and purpose. The “Martin” part? That’s me, it’s personal, it’s legacy, and it’s accountability. Putting my name on it meant I had to stand behind it, live it, and lead with integrity. Read more>>

Alyssa Rios

“Tentacle Ink Co” was a name that made sense to what I do, correlated to what my company does. What does an Octopus provide in an instinctual manner? “Ink.” To protect itself and its way out.

However, it corresponded with what we do at T.I.C. We go beyond just murals, freelance design, we also give people the chance to create their next permanent piece on their skin, we bring a vision to life with care and boldness. Read more>>

EBONEE JOHNSON

The name “Twisted Fingers” came to me naturally, inspired by the constant twisting motion that’s a key part of my work. As someone who uses their hands daily to style and nurture natural hair, my fingers are always in motion—twisting, braiding, and shaping. This physical action became symbolic of something deeper: the way I help women reconnect with and embrace their natural beauty. Through every twist, I’m not just creating a hairstyle—I’m helping each woman see the power, uniqueness, and elegance in being her authentic self. “Twisted Fingers” is more than a name; it’s a reflection of my hands-on journey in celebrating natural beauty. Read more>>

Lakisha Evans

The name of my company is “Princess Niya’s Boutique.” My company is named after daughter. I actually came up with the name because I wanted to be different than all the other skincare brands and companies out there. Every company now has either the word(s): soap, suds, skincare, beauty, etc in their names.  Read more>>

Dominique Perry

I have loved photography since I was a child. My father often posed my siblings and I almost anywhere, whether it be outside of a restaurant, or at the bottom of our stairs in our home. Not to mention, my fathers passion as a drummer, and artist resonated deep within me. I’ve always felt connected to visual arts in some kind of way. In high school I took my first photography class and my mom bought me my first camera. I had an opportunity to develop film in black and white and capture what I wanted freely. Once I got to college I had no clue what I was going to school for. Read more>>

Leica Palma

I wanted a name that was clear, approachable, and truly reflected the heart of what I do. That’s how Simply Facials came to be. As an esthetician and the owner of Simply Facials in Thousand Oaks, my focus is on providing customized, results-driven skincare in a calm and welcoming environment. The name captures my philosophy: straightforward and effective treatments without unnecessary complexity, just quality care and real results. Read more>>

Angie Cline

I get asked this question a lot, I really actually wanted to name our wine bar “Quintessential” but it was not available so we did a deep dive in brainstorming as to what our focus was for the wine bar. we wanted people to relax, reconnect, explore and experience a very different dining experience. my husband really wanted to keep a focus on Az craft beers and of course the sharable plates “Tapas” and a large collection of wines from boutique wineries from around the world that sell for on premise only, meaning they aren’t sold in markets or liquor stores. that people would otherwise never have an opportunity to try so it seemed simple that we wanted to Quench the thirst and hunger. So, Quench Taps and Tapas was born. Read more>>

Kimberly Ocampo-Shah

I actually can’t take credit for naming the company – that honor goes to my husband and co-founder, Rajiv Shah. The name was inspired by a profound scene from Bruce Lee’s movie ‘Enter the Dragon,’ where Bruce Lee mentors a young student about the meaning of ’emotional content.’ Read more>>

Darrell Hubbard

Blackematics came to me three years ago during a road trip to Austin with my wife and two kids at the time. As I listened to a podcast about creating products, I reflected on the many podcasts I had heard about writing books and developing courses. I asked myself, “What am I truly good at?” That’s when two passions—mathematics and poetry—came together. Read more>>

Bolanle Adebomi

In the beginning of my entrepreneurial career, I wanted to be a fashion designer and was obsessed with the namesake fashion houses, so I figured I would name my brand Bolanlé and make it a namesake. After years of working on several projects and eventually leading full campaigns, I pivoted from fashion design to wanting to build a creative agency. The idea of the agency being a namesake just didn’t feel as appealing anymore. Read more>>

Patrick McCandless

When I first started the company in 2017, I was hosting small, intimate events where I invited interesting people I had met during my years as a chef across the country to be guest speakers, and I paired food & drinks to the topic of discussion (think TED Talks meets pop-up dinner). At the time, the name Rambler had a double meaning – someone “rambling” about their topic of expertise, while also roaming around the city and holding the events at different locations. Read more>>

Shakir Dzheyranov

Hello Robo came out of a conversation about how most tech and robotics companies sound cold or overly technical. We thought—what if a robot introduced itself to you? That simple phrase, Hello Robo, felt human. It hints at where the world is going, but stays warm and approachable. It stuck. And it reminds us every day: great tech still needs to feel human. And on personal side, I looooooove robots. Read more>>

Tatyana Barlow

I love this question! So my business is Voneiric. Oneiric means “of relating to dreams or in a dream state”. I wanted my business title to involve a word that was related to dreams or dreaming, because me finally deciding to make a business surrounding my dancing was an act of me finally betting on myself and following my dream. Plus it also fits my theme of dreamy flowy pole dancing. I needed a word that was unique (because dreamlike words are very popular in the pole community, so I had to do some digging) and finally found one that works. Read more>>

Joe Mazza

I love this question because the name REANIMATE is truly at the heart of our mission. It speaks to my deeply-held, unwavering belief that we all have innate creative gifts and abilities, whether it’s for our professional endeavors or simply for personal fulfillment and joy. Read more>>

Nde Nkimbeng

I named my business Your Event MC so people instantly knew what they were getting — a go-to place to book the best MC or host for their event. It’s simple, clear, and puts the client at the center. Read more>>

Dayna Daberkoe

I get asked about my brands name often, it really intrigues people so it’s a great conversation starter. When I decided to start my own business for my art I knew it had to be simple and catchy, but also something that I identified with personally. With the heart of my brand stemming from European folklore, I wanted it to incorporate my German roots. I was out driving one day playing with words aloud, and it came to me. My favorite animal is a fawn, and the word ‘haus’ in German meaning house, I thought how cleaver— Fawn Haus sounds like a play on words of ‘Fun House’. Read more>>

Reina Nelson

“ Three Generations Made is inspired by the passion, skill and creativity passed down through generations in our family; from grandma, mom to daughter. This shop is a representation of what we enjoy and love to do, together.” Read more>>

Miriam Graham

I came up with the name Nubian Queen Management back in the 1990s. The idea was deeply rooted in identity, legacy, and purpose. I’ve always believed that we come from royalty and that our lineage carries strength, grace, and undeniable power. I wanted the name of my company to reflect that spirit not just in words, but in how I operate: with character, integrity, dignity, and a sense of purpose. Read more>>