Where Company Names Came From Options

[bragadocchio]

I've seen a few links to this page recently, and thought it was pretty interesting how some companies came up with their names:

List of company name etymologies

I'm amazed at the different uses I've seen for a wiki, and this was one that really captivated me.

A couple of snippets;

Apache - The name was chosen from respect for the Native American Indian tribe of Apache (Indé), well-known for their superior skills in warfare strategy and their inexhaustible endurance. Secondarily, and more popularly (though incorrectly) accepted, it's a considered cute name which stuck: Its founders got started by applying patches to code written for NCSA's httpd daemon. The result was 'a patchy' server—thus, the name Apache.

Cisco - short for San Francisco. It has also been suggested that it was \"CIS-co\" -- Computer Information Services was the department at Stanford University that the founders worked in.

I know more than a couple of people who struggled coming up with a name for their business. I think that it's helpful to see some of the rather mundane reasons how some very successful businesses got their names.

[OldWelshGuy]

We chose Umbrella as we thought maybe it would provide a roof over our head and keep us dry in times of storm.

[bragadocchio]

Hi OWG,

Good to see you here.

I'm thinking I'd like to start a new company, and a great name is a good thing to find. Some of these show that it isn't as hard to come up with a name as many people think.

Umbrella is easy to think of a logo for, too.

[sanity]

I like your reasoning OWG. Nice to see you here too.

I'm also in the process of coming up with a new name. I'm pretty sure I've finalised it but will stay mum until it's definite.

One thing I've learned is it takes time. You really shouldn't rush the process.

[Respree]

Nice find, Bill. Interesting.

BTW, welcome OWG. Actually, you don't look that old to me...

[bwelford]

This is a topic I've just got to get involved with.

I spend more time on this than on most other items of a company's assets. You can see where I'm coming from in two particular Newsletters I wrote, "For More Sales Call Your Company MONDAY" and "SWOT That Company Name".

In essence, I think you've got to see the company name from the point of view of someone who's never heard of your company before. You're trying to get their attention in this messy and confusing ("Where's Waldo?") internet world. Once they focus on you, then it doesn't matter what you're called, provided it's not completely obscure or irrelevant.

I suggest this is the customer-centric approach rather than the product-driven one.

[Pivik]

hmm I pulled mine out of a hat...now I have to come up with something to show people when they ask me what a Pivik is...I am getting tired of trying to explain to them that it doesn't really mean anything...oh well thats life

[Black_Knight]

hmm I pulled mine out of a hat...

So, is the company called 'Rabbit' or 'Head'?

Yahoo! always struck me as a particularly awful name, but just look how big and successful the company became from its origins as a part-time prject of a couple of students.

Almost anything can work, but simple and memorable are two of the most important aspects to seek in a name. Don't forget branding though. Give the company a name that helps express its 'personality'.