How To Come Up With A Brand Name For Your Clothing

Whether you’re naming a pet, a business, or a brand, it all comes down to following a process to get there. When you’re coming up with a brand name for your clothing line, you need to make sure you think it through—it could be a name that people use for decades or even centuries. So how do you come up with your own brand name?

To come up with brand names for your clothing line:

Start by making a list of any ideas you have, including keywords, goals, your mission, etc.
Find inspiration online or in your daily life.
Find inspiration through writing or word concepts.
Look over your list and start creating names.
Get feedback from trusted individuals in your life.
If necessary, go back and continue brainstorming.
Pick a name and get it registered.

Regardless of what you choose, following this process can make choosing a name much easier—and much faster. Read on to find out how you can start the process of picking the right brand name for your clothing line.

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Start by making a list of any ideas you have, including keywords, goals, your mission, etc.

You have to start somewhere, and your initial brainstorming list is where you should begin. When you’re creating your business plan, there is a point where you are determining your business goals and mission statement—what key words come out of that brainstorming session, and how can you bring them into the naming of your brand?

One thing to remember at this point in the naming process is that you can never have enough. Start with your initial ideas and start considering any synonyms that may jog your thoughts. You may not end up with anything off of this list, but it is a great way to get the thought process started.

So what can you think about when you’re creating a list of potential names for your brand? There are a few questions you can ask yourself:

What makes my brand memorable?
Where do I get inspired?
What colors, fonts, and other branding do I like for my business?
What aesthetic does my brand follow most?
What kind of sizing and inventory will I provide?
What is my target audience?

These few questions can help you start to determine what you want your business to convey—and therefore can help you narrow down a potential name.

There are so many options that it may become overwhelming at this very first step in the process. Make sure when you make this list that you’re adding concepts and words that aren’t dated. Buzzwords, popular search phrases, memes, etc. are all things that will come and go, and you don’t want your business brand to come and go. Consider more timeless concepts when you make your list.

You should also avoid trying to come up with your brand name on the spot. A memorable name could jump out at you in your first few brainstorming sessions, but make sure you write it down and continue considering names. It will be there when you’re done—and if it remains to be your favorite, then it will stay your favorite throughout the entire process, new ideas or not!

Find inspiration online or in your daily life

There’s so many options when it comes to creating your brand name, and you can continue your brainstorming by looking around your daily life. If you’re finding yourself struggling to add more words to your list, consider trying some sort of business name generator. Shopify, NameMesh, or NameSnack all are great options for helping you brainstorm—but make sure whatever you pick can be tailored to you and your business. These name generators can be helpful, but very general—use them in moderation and only for initial ideas.

You can also look at your life and draw inspiration from it, including picking a family name for your business. So many of the most popular brands in the industry are use either a given name or a surname, like Gucci, Tiffany & Co, and Cartier. If you’re looking to longevity, consider a family name. They are unique, can create a personal touch to your brand, and can easily stand the test of time. One important pitfall to avoid, though, is using a name that isn’t pronounceable by the general public. While it’s sad to consider if a name you choose can’t be pronounced, it is important to make sure your business name can be easily spread through word of mouth or on audio mediums. Make sure you consider that as you look into family names.

If you want to focus on your local community, you can also look to it for inspiration. If you’re interested in local history or culture, you can add concepts to your list that reflect that. One important thing to note if you do this, though, is what happens if you expand your brand. If you want it to go global, naming your brand could do one of two things—it can either give you a unique, almost “small business” vibe that many people search for, or it could alienate anyone who is not familiar with your community. If you can find something in the former rather than the latter, it is a good choice for your business name.

Find inspiration through writing or word concepts

While alliteration, rhymes, and puns can be considered childish or unprofessional, consider checking these options out if you’ve hit a snag. While you may not end up deciding on something that comes from this list, it can help jog your thoughts and bring new options to the table. Consider using a website like RhymeZone to help give you additional ideas.

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Look over your list and start creating names

If you’ve made your exhaustive list, it’s time to start considering your brand name. Look for anything that sticks out or that is more unique than the rest. If you find your eyes stopping on a particular word or phrase, mark it. At this point, you should be trying to narrow down your list. If you need to add more, you can go back to one of the previous steps.

Get feedback from trusted individuals in your life

Whether it’s your family or friends, you can start getting some input from them. Bring your shortened list to them to ask their opinion. Search for the family members who will be genuine and honest with you—if they don’t want to buy from your brand, it will be hard to sell to those who aren’t regularly in your life.

Be prepared to answer questions or to brainstorm additional names with them, if they have suggestions. Don’t be afraid to turn them down if there’s a name you don’t like—it’s still your brand and not theirs.

If necessary, go back and continue brainstorming

If you find that you’re lacking any excitement in your names, don’t worry! You can go back to any one of the previous steps to complete again. You may have to several times if you don’t find a name that sticks out to you.

Pick a name and get it registered

If you’ve come to the conclusion that you’ve picked the right name, it’s time to make sure it’s available for your brand. It’s possible the name is already taken when registering it with the government, so make sure you check into it before you make any final decisions. Your brand is your image, so having the right one is key.

Make sure you consider all variations of the name you choose. If you decide eventually you’d like to go to an acronym, make sure it’s easy to pronounce and doesn’t spell anything it shouldn’t. Plenty of successful businesses go by an acronym, but it can be hard—only choose this if you feel like it fits your brand the best.

Your brand name should be unique, but first and foremost, it has to be about you. What do you want out of your brand name, and what do you want people to know about you? Focus on that as you create your list and make sure you maintain that focus throughout the entire process. Naming your brand is a way to add to your potential success—make the right choice for you and your brand, and success will follow.

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