Choosing a name for your business or product is one of the most difficult decisions to make. And it's important to not get caught up in the emotion of it all.

Last week I had the privilege of welcoming my third child into the world and my first daughter.  One of my great privileges in life is getting to name my children, and one rule my wife and I made is that we don't tell anyone our children's name before they are born.  If we tell someone the child's name before he or she is born, the only response to the name would be to judge it in its inherent subjective value.  And we have no interest in getting anyone's feedback on the name in and of itself.  But after the child is born, they will only experience that name in relation to our child.

It's the same name with naming a company, product or service.  Remember the announcement of the iPad?  I heard so many negative comments about the name.  Either it sounds like someone from New England saying iPod or some sort of feminine product.  But does anyone complain about the name now?  Nope.  Why?  Because they only know it in the context of the great piece of technology that is the iPad.

Instead of focusing on how the name measures up in and of itself, focus on a solid brand strategy and the 7 Key Naming Principles.

Can you think of any other names that had initial negative reactions that are now long gone?

Image found here.

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