As you start to create your clothing line and considering opening your own boutique, it’s important to start considering what you’re going to name yourself. It’s the first thing your potential customers are going to notice and it will be the name on their lips when they’re sharing what they purchased with their loved ones—so, no pressure, right? Your boutique name has to be perfect for your business and how it represents you.
To create a cute boutique name for your business:
- Show off your focus on local history or your shop’s address, like “68 Cedar” or “Ninth Street Outfitters”.
- Honor your personal history with a family name as your boutique name.
- Tell your customers the sizing you sell by including it in your name like “Tony’s Big and Tall” or “True 2 Size”.
- Show your customers where your clothing comes from, especially if it’s handmade, by including it in your boutique name—like “Local Customs” or “Local Handmade”.
- Cater to a certain aesthetic by including it in your business name; for example, if you’re a vintage shop, keep it old school like “Vinyl & Lace Vintage”.
- Create a chic business name by using simply an adjective or two you want people to associate with your business, like “Feeling Eclectic” or “Clean & Chic”.
So how do you come up with your own boutique names? What are the steps in choosing a business name? How do you decide from a list of your own making? Read on to find out more about how to come up with your own and how to choose which will be the name of your future boutique.
Coming Up with Your Own: The Process
It’s important to know how to come up with your own business name, even though there are some examples above. There are plenty of ways to gain inspiration through the process, and that list isn’t the only way.
- Make a list of potential ideas. You’re looking for a lot of potential ideas, so start making a list. What makes your business unique? Where do you get inspiration? What is your target demographic? What’s your aesthetic? What key words can you use to describe your business? What are some local aspects that you like around you? What do you want to use in your branding?
- Consider name generators or word concepts. Shopify, NameMesh, or NameSnack are all great name generators for your business, but you can also consider using alliteration, rhymes, or puns in your name. Be careful with this, though, because you can easily start shifting into a childish name list.
- Go through your list and find which ones you like best, then share them with your trusted family and friends. They can be a great resource as you’re naming your business, as you trust their opinion and they will freely give it. If there’s a strange sounding name on your list, your family and friends will find it!
- Not finding a name you like? Go back to the start. If you find yourself not able to make a decision, go back to the list and consider the answers to your questions. Make sure you avoid using trendy names or buzzwords that may leave the vernacular in the next ten years, and avoid creating any names that may sound dated.
- Make a decision and stick with it. Consider the name you want for your business and how it will sound twenty, fifty, even a hundred years down the road. If you find yourself drawn to one that feels both timeless and relevant, you’ve found your business name. Once you decide, you can start coming up with the next steps, like registering your business name and developing your own branding. If you find your business name is already taken, you can either go back to your list or modify it to be a bit different. This may happen, so don’t get discouraged!
We Answer: Is 10k enough to start a clothing line?
Cute Boutique Names for Your Business: Examples
Now that you know how to get there, how do you decide on what kind of name you want? How do you get those ideas down on that list for your narrow down? Use those brainstorming ideas like listed above, but there’s no harm in considering these ideas to start.
- Show off your focus on local history or your shop’s address, like “68 Cedar” or “Ninth Street Outfitters”.
There are plenty of businesses named after their location or their city. This is a great idea if you want to stay local and appeal to that demographic, but there is a setback—if you decide to move or expand, you’re named for a location you might not be in anymore. Consider this before you make this decision.
- Honor your personal history with a family name as your boutique name.
Naming your business after yourself or your family is another great way to honor your family while keeping a unique touch. Plenty of large-scale clothing lines are named after their original owners and creators, so if you’re looking for longevity, consider this unique opportunity. A potential setback? Make sure it’s something easy to remember and not difficult to pronounce. You want people to share what your business is, not have to avoid naming it.
- Tell your customers the sizing you sell by including it in your name like “Tony’s Big and Tall” or “True 2 Size”.
In our day and age, people are constantly looking for clothing stores that cater to their size needs. Including that in your name will only help people find you more easily. A setback, though, is alienating an entire other demographic—if you find yourself just selling plus sized or petite clothing, make sure you’re willing to only cater to that demographic.
- Show your customers where your clothing comes from, especially if it’s handmade, by including it in your boutique name—like “Local Customs” or “Local Handmade”.
People love buying handmade, locally made, and locally sourced items, and your boutique store can also fall into that category, especially if you’re making all of your items locally. You should be proud of that aspect of your business, and it’s a great marketing tool for a number of demographics. A possible setback? If you decide you want to branch out into other items, you may find yourself struggling to stick with that “handmade” name.
- Cater to a certain aesthetic by including it in your business name; for example, if you’re a vintage shop, keep it old school like “Vinyl & Lace Vintage”.
With aesthetics ruling our social media age, you can cater to any sort of aesthetic you want. Whether it’s tapping into that floral and flowy cottagecore vibe or sticking with a retro and vintage look, you can name your business after the aesthetic people are searching for. Like the handmade names or the names by size, though, a setback can be alienating any other demographic that may not be searching for this sort of aesthetic.
- Create a chic business name by using simply an adjective or two you want people to associate with your business, like “Feeling Eclectic” or “Clean & Chic”.
While this can be considered at face value the easiest route to take, it can be one of the hardest. This naming convention can be extremely non-specific, which is great if you’re looking to hit a lot of different demographics, unlike some of the other ones. That being said, the vague quality of these names can be both liberating and helpful while still being almost too vague for your branding and marketing. Make sure you find words that are descriptive if you choose this route.
Regardless of how you decide to you name your boutique, there are plenty of avenues to take in naming. Whether you decide to pick an aesthetic based name or describe what you want people to take away from your brand, it doesn’t matter—it needs to be something memorable that people will be able to share with their loved ones. Pick a name you love, as well—just because it tests well or sounds good doesn’t mean you’ll love it. In the long run, it is your business and your hard work. Find something you like that you can see yourself using for fifty years.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
How do I register a domain name for my boutique?
If you’re looking to create a website on your own, finding a domain can be very easy if you’re looking through websites such as SquareSpace, Register.com, or GoDaddy. Make sure you have a unique domain name in mind before you consider looking at one of these sites for purchase.
Now that I have my name, how do I register it so my business is legal?
Because it varies from state to state on how you must register your business name, it’s important to look into your state, federal, and local agencies to find out what the steps are for your area. If you need additional assistance, you can find more information and the U.S. Small Business Administration website.
To learn more about how to start your own fashion clothing line check out my startup documents here:
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Fashion Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a designer or boutique owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Fashion Business Boss: I want to help fashion business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.