At River + Wolf, we love great brand names—not only our own, but also those created by marketing execs, company founders, and agency colleagues. To celebrate these magnificent monikers and, more broadly, the art of brand naming, we have created Names of Distinction (NOD), a monthly gallery that features the names of emerging and established products and companies that have launched in the last ten years or so.
In tribute to Valentine's Day, this month's gallery is featuring an elegant and edgy, poetic and playful collection of women's, men's, and unisex niche fragrance names. For a little insight into what makes them so sensational, have a look at NOD's February blog.
To brighten the dreariness of January (at least in some parts of the world), our gallery is featuring an elegant and edgy, poetic and playful collection of striking cosmetic shade names plus a few names of companies in the business of making these colorful products. And for a little insight into what makes them so great, have a look at NOD's January blog.
In honor of New York Fashion Week (NYFW), September’s NOD gallery features a collection of poetic and playful, edgy and elegant apparel and fashion service names. For a little insight into why we think these names deserve a place on the naming runway, have a look at NOD’s September blog.
As August is a month when people are on the move, consuming content on multiple devices, this month’s gallery features a collection of poetic and playful, edgy and elegant ad tech names that deliver targeted content to customers wherever they are. For a little insight into what makes these start-up ad tech names stand out from the pack, have a look at NOD’s August blog.
As July is a month associated with relaxation, this month's gallery features a collection of poetic and playful, edgy and elegant wine and vinery names, for what is more restful than sipping a glass of wine beneath a beach umbrella or summer moon? For a little insight into why we think these names sparkle, take a look at NOD’s July blog.
As June is the first month of summer—a season traditionally associated with travel and leisure (even if imagined a little differently in 2020) — this month's gallery features a collection of poetic and playful, edgy and elegant travel and leisure names, from hotels and resorts to booking platforms and retreats. For a little insight into what we think makes these names take off, have a look at NOD’s June blog.
As May’s flowers are covering the landscape, Artificial Intelligence companies are spreading like super blooms across the terrain of technology. In honor of this wild growth, this month's gallery features a collection of poetic and playful, edgy and elegant Artificial Intelligence company and product names. For a little insight into what makes these names so cool have a look at NOD’s May blog.
In honor of April showers, this month's gallery features a collection of playful and poetic, edgy and elegant personal care company and product names. For a little insight into what makes these names so refreshing, have a look at NOD’s April blog.
In honor of International Women’s Month, this month's gallery is featuring an elegant and edgy, poetic and playful collection of women's co-working spaces. For a little insight into what makes these name shine, have a look at NOD’s March blog.
Dirty Pineapple is a Shanghai-based design collective founded by Elsa Zai and Nellie Wang. With collections reflecting worldwide cultures, Dirty Pineapple creates universal, gender-free designs that blend casual streetwear with high-style fashion. Read more about this brand name and/or see Dirty Pineapple here.
According to the winemakers’ website, they discovered the perfect emblem in their own backyard. The Smoke Tree, with its cloud of pink and purple blossoms, drought-resistant nature, and minimal upkeep needs, made it the perfect choice for their winery name. Read more about this brand name and/or see SmokeTree here.
This lovely name works on two levels. First, it evokes the little thrill of unexpectedly spotting a bit of sparkling glass on the beach. This concept ties well to the founders’ story of uncovering a surprising flavor at each sip. Read more about this brand name and/or see Seaglass here.
According to the Blasted Church's website, a small crew from Okanagan Falls set off to a deserted mining camp with the mission of dismantling an old wooden church and bringing it back to Okanagan Falls without damaging the wood. Read more about this brand name and/or see Blasted Church here.
As a child, Jayson Woodward, the vintner of Layer Cake wine, enjoyed the site of his grandmother making her famous Sunday layer cake. As they watched her baking, he sipped from a small glass of wine and listened to his grandfather who described the similarity between creating a layer cake and winemaking sipped. Read more about this brand name and/or see Layer Cake here.
As a dog breed, the Whippet is known to be social and stylish. As such, this is a great name for a crisp white Sauvignon Blanc that positions itself as both approachable and elegant. Read more about this brand name and/or see Whippet here.
As a naming gallery, we are highlighting names, not design. In this case, however, we’re making an exception. While Portrait may not be the most unique name—in fact there are several brands that use this name—Oggau Estates elevates it to a whole new level with its intriguing label designs. Read more about this brand name and/or see Oggau Estate Portrait Wines here.
Why re-invent the wheel? Sometimes the name of a city, town or area is just too good not to use as a name, whether for a wine or winery. Weemala — an aboriginal word that means “good view” — is one of those. The name really takes flight with its label design — drawings of five birds common to the area. Read more about this brand name and/or see Weemala here.
J Bookwalter Winery is a literary-themed winery in Columbia Valley. Not only do they give their wines names like Subplot, Foreshadow, and Protagonist — they also have a wine club called The Book Club, and a restaurant dubbed as Fiction. Read more about this brand name and/or see Subplot here.
For multiple reasons, rivers can aid as moderating influences in grape growing, helping them retain their vital acidity. A prime location near a major river helps achieve this balance, as rivers are great climate tamers. Pairing the word “river” with “restless” gives this name an uncommon flavor despite the much used word “river”. Read more about this brand name and/or see Restless River here.
When Jidvein wines of Transylvania decided to develop a new limited wine series for the night clubs/lounge and bars market, they knew they would have to compete with jewel toned liquors and spirits seductively glimmering on the shelves. The name, Mysterium, reflects the hush-hush nature of the brand in multiple ways. Read more about this brand name and/or see Mysterium here.
As Robert Louis Stevenson famously said, “wine is bottled poetry”. We could not agree more. For this reason, poetry is a great subject area to explore when developing wine names. If you do choose this route, skip the obvious — names like Lyric, Stanza, and so on. Go for terms or images less well known. Read more about this brand name and/or see Hexameter here.
If you find yourself in the position of naming an Old World Wine, be a bit adventurous and try to move a few steps past the convention of naming a wine after family name, chateaux, or reference to the wine itself. Fleur de Mer, a winery in Provence does just that. Read more about this brand name and/or see Fleur de Mer here.
Since its founding in San Diego, CA in 2011 by Felena Hanson, Hera Hub has to four locations, including Sweden. With its reference to the Greek goddess, the name quickly telegraphs that this space caters to women, and not just any sort of women but one who occupies a powerful place in ancient myth. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
The Hivery, founded by Grace Kraaijvanger, is a female-fueled co-working space in Mill Valley, CA that is open to everyone. The name immediately telegraphs the idea of community, work, and productivity, but also suggests sweetness—for what is honey if not sweet? Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
For founder Sheree Rubinstein One Roof is about support, community, and innovation. As a name, One Roof Woman conveys the idea that everything a woman needs to thrive in business is found in one place. Too, given the connection between roof and shelter, the name suggests protection and home. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
Founded by Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan in 2016, The Wing’s mission is the professional, civic, social, and economic advancement of women through community. The name encompasses multiple-meanings, from an added wing of a home or building to the concept of something taking flight. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
Make Lemonade, The Toronto-based co-working space founded by Rachel Kelly expresses the idea that the “struggle is real” when you are following your dream. This fun and fitting phrasal name immediately summons up the idea that a sour situation—such as working in crowded and noisy cafes—can be transformed into something cool and refreshing. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
The two founders of Lipstick Lane—Jeanie and Matthew Hunter—decided to convey femininity through an overtly female references—lipstick. This could have easily backfired, but given the nature of the business, it works as “lipstick” cues to beauty, strength, and an eye for design, all important parts of this co-working space. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
In merging the word “she” and “ecosystem” into a single word, Emily Rose Antflick, the Founder and Chief Community Cultivator of Shecosystem, reflects the idea that individual female founders working in this space are not alone—they are part of a greater whole. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
Founded by Jen Mojo in 2015, Paper Dolls opened their first “studio” in Los Angeles. The name plays off the idea of turning blank pages into new businesses and, through the image of interlinked paper dolls, immediately telegraphs the idea that women go farther when they are linked together. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
Founded by the graphic designer Renee Deming, the name of this Plymouth, Michigan co-working space does just what pastel colors do—it evokes an image or feeling that is serene and inviting. Given its founder’s artistic background, the name feels personal too, as it derives from the world of art. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
Hayley Swindell, a serial entrepreneur and creative, sought to develop a co-working studio that catered to the creative rather than the tech community. The name plays works on two levels, suggesting a place where things are made and where women can go to “refine” themselves and their ideas. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
The Riveter, co-founded by Kim Peltola and Amy Nelson, is a national female-focused co-working brand that plays off Rosie the Riveter, the infamous symbol of female power and productivity. In this way the name perfectly matches the space’s mission—a place where ambitious, independent folk can claim their seat at the table. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
AllBright co-founders Debbie Wosskow Obe and Anna Jones created a women-only private club wih a name that shines in multiple ways—suggesting a membership and space that is positive, radiant and smart. And it gives a shout out to one very famous woman too. Read more about this brand name and/or see product/company here.
