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#1 RANKED NAMING & BRANDING FIRM on CLUTCH

Catchword is a global brand naming and identity powerhouse that helps organizations define and express who they are—strategically, verbally, and visually. Since 1998, we've partnered with clients from startups to the Fortune 100 to create brands that move markets and endure.

  • Min project size
    $10,000+
  • Hourly rate
    $300+ / hr
  • Employees
    10 - 49
  • Locations
    Oakland, CA
  • Year founded
    Founded 1998
  • Languages
  • Timezones

1 Language that we service

  • English

2 Timezones that we service

EST
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
PST
Pacific Standard Time (PST)

2 Locations

  • Oakland , CA
  • New York , NY

Service Lines
Logo
15%
Select Focus Area
Branding Focus
Industries
Business services
10%
Consumer products & services
10%
Financial services
10%
Information technology
10%
Manufacturing
10%
Medical
10%
Arts, entertainment & music
5%
Automotive
5%
Media
5%
Non-profit
5%
Other industries
5%
Real estate
5%
Retail
5%
Telecommunications
5%
Clients
Enterprise (>$1B)
55%
Midmarket ($10M - $1B)
35%
Small Business (<$10M)
10%

Pricing Snapshot

Min. project size $10,000+
Avg. hourly rate $300+ /hr
Rating for cost 4.9 /5

What Clients Have Said

Catchword offers competitive pricing, with projects typically ranging from $10,000 to over $100,000 depending on complexity. Clients appreciate the value for cost, citing thorough processes and high-quality outputs, which include extensive name options and trademark prescreening, ensuring solid deliverables.

This summary is based on verified Clutch reviews.

Most Common Project Size

< $49,999 based on 97 reviews
< $49,999 $50,000 - $199,999 $200,000 - $999,999 > $1,000,000

Select a service to see pricing information

Catchword Review Insights

Overall Review Rating

5.0
  • Quality 5.0
  • Schedule 5.0
  • Cost 4.9
  • Willing to Refer 5.0

Top Mentions

Review Highlights

  • Challenges with Name Selection

    Some clients mention the difficulty in narrowing down the final name from the extensive list of options provided by Catchword. While the variety of choices is appreciated, it can sometimes be challenging for clients to select the best name from such a comprehensive list.

  • Expertise in Naming and Branding

    Catchword consistently delivers high-quality and creative names for businesses across various industries. Clients value their ability to understand complex brand needs and create names that resonate with target audiences. Their expertise in naming is evident in the thoughtful, strategic process they employ, resulting in names that align with brand objectives and market positioning.

  • Creative and Strategic Approach

    Catchword is recognized for their creative and strategic approach to naming. They provide a wide range of naming options, supported by strategic rationale, which helps clients make informed decisions. Their creativity is balanced with strategic thinking, ensuring that the names they develop are both innovative and aligned with business goals.

  • Effective Handling of Complex Naming Challenges

    Catchword excels at handling complex naming challenges, such as creating names for products that need to resonate across multiple markets and cultures. Their process includes thorough linguistic and trademark screenings to ensure that the selected names are viable and appropriate for the intended audiences.

  • High Client Satisfaction and Positive Feedback

    The feedback from Catchword's clients is overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing satisfaction with the naming solutions provided and the overall experience of working with the agency. The positive reception of their work often leads to ongoing partnerships and repeat engagements.

  • Strong Project Management Skills

    Clients frequently praise Catchword for their efficient project management, which includes clear communication, adherence to timelines, and organized workflows. Their ability to manage projects smoothly and keep clients informed throughout the process contributes to a positive working relationship and successful project outcomes.

Catchword Reviews

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Rebranding Program for Educational Book & Toy Publisher

  • Branding
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • July - Dec. 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"Their process is well-honed and guides clients in a way that is informative, collaborative, and fun."

Jan 27, 2023
Chief Sales & Mktg Officer, Educational Development Corp
Heather Cobb
Verified
  • Other industries
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • 51-200 Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

Catchword led a rebranding program for an educational book and toy publisher. Their scope included brand strategy, positioning, name, and other design elements. They provided 100 names and 20 design options.

Branding for Footwear & Apparel Company

  • Branding
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • Apr. 2022 - Jan. 2023
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"They were great, all around."

Jan 17, 2023
Manager, Footwear & Apparel Company
Anonymous
Verified
  • Other industries
  • Denver, Colorado
  • 501-1,000 Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

A footwear and apparel company hired Catchword to conduct a complete naming program for two of their products, including a deep discovery phase, multiple rounds of name development, and trademark prescreening.

Branding Services for Software Company

  • Branding
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • Feb. - Oct. 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"Their responsiveness, attention to detail, and commitment to doing and getting it right really stood out."

Nov 29, 2022
Executive, Software Company
Anonymous
Verified
  • Other industries
  • Toronto, Ontario
  • 51-200 Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

Catchword provided branding services for a software company. After thoroughly reviewing the client's documents and videos to understand their culture, the team created a shortlist of names and logo concepts.

Rebranding & Naming for Freight Brokers Financial Platform

  • Branding
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • May - Sep. 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

“Their process and expertise were outstanding. They were masters of their space.”

Sep 6, 2022
Head of Marketing, Denim
Fritz Lauer
Verified
  • Financial services
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • 11-50 Employees
  • Phone Interview
  • Verified

Catchword provided naming and branding services for a freight brokers financial platform. They did interviews, went through various creative workshop sessions, and delivered two rounds of 500 names.

Product Trademarking for Professional Learning Community

  • Branding Business Consulting
  • $10,000 to $49,999
  • Feb. - June 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"They worked with joy throughout, and you can’t always say that about vendors."

Aug 18, 2022
Chief Impact Officer, ASCD
Penny Reinart
Verified
  • Education
  • Canyon, Texas
  • 201-500 Employees
  • Phone Interview
  • Verified

Catchword provided a naming process for their client, managing interview- and researched-based discovery to generate a list of over 1,000 possible names. After several rounds of feedback, the name was chosen. 

Rebrand for Insurance Company

  • Branding
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • Jan. - June 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"I was impressed with the quality of deliverables and the processes they went through to help us get to the end result!"

Aug 16, 2022
General Manager, Insurance Company
Anonymous
Verified
  • Other industries
  • St. Petersburg, Florida
  • 51-200 Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

Catchword supported rebranding efforts for an insurance company. They developed a new brand identity and delivered a new name, brand pillars, logo, color palette, and brand book.

Name Branding for Healthcare Business Solutions Company

  • Branding
  • $10,000 to $49,999
  • Mar. - July 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
4.5
Willing to Refer
5.0

"We would hire them again without reservation."

Jul 27, 2022
SVP & Head of LACA, Sagility
Anand Biradar
Verified
  • Other industries
  • Kingston, Jamaica
  • 10,001+ Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

To supplement their efforts in maximizing their business, a healthcare business solutions company engaged with Catchword to position their brand, develop a new name, and create branding narratives.

Multi-Product Naming for Diagnostics Company

  • Advertising Branding Market Research
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • Jan. - Apr. 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"They're able to make the naming process both, a creative and educational exercise all at once."

Jun 6, 2022
VP of Commercial Marketing, Antech Diagnostics
David Eaton
Verified
  • Other industries
  • Fountain Valley, California
  • 1,001-5,000 Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

Catchword named a diagnostics company's multiple products. The presented two rounds of pre-screened creative work before coming up with a broad selection of direct and metaphorical names.

Valuation Tool Branding for E-Commerce Technology Firm

  • Branding
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • Feb. - Mar. 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"The outstanding creative name ideas they developed is what impressed me the most."

May 12, 2022
CEO, E-Commerce Technology Firm
Anonymous
Verified
  • Other industries
  • Bellevue, Washington
  • 11-50 Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

Catchword provided strategic branding and name ideation services for an e-commerce technology firm as part of a valuation tool branding process. They also helped with trademark prescreening for potential names.

Product Naming for Digital Consulting Firm

  • Branding Market Research Other Digital Marketing
  • $50,000 to $199,999
  • Feb. - Apr. 2022
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0

"They really care about getting to the bottom of what your product and brand are about."

Apr 12, 2022
Platform Strategist, Digital Consulting Firm
Marcus Heijer
Verified
  • Business services
  • Seattle, Washington
  • 51-200 Employees
  • Online Review
  • Verified

After collaborating on prior brand naming projects, Catchword was rehired by a digital consulting firm to develop a name for the client's new project. 

Brand Strategy, Naming, and Design Services

Catchword focuses on brand strategy, naming, and identity development. Our packages range from naming- or identity-only engagements to full brand development projects involving brand strategy, naming, and design.

Small

Brand Name Development

$25,000 /total
  • Discovery
  • Naming Brief
  • Name Development
  • Name Presentations
  • Trademark & Domain Prescreening

Large

Brand Strategy, Naming, and Identity Development

$125,000 /total
  • Discovery
  • Naming Brief
  • Name Development
  • Name Presentations
  • Trademark & Domain Prescreening
Features

Small

$25,000

/total

Medium

$75,000

/total

Large

$125,000

/total

Discovery

Naming Brief

Name Development

Name Presentations

Trademark & Domain Prescreening

Design Brief

Logo Development

Logo Presentations

Brand Style Guide

Brand Positioning

Brand Purpose

Brand Voice

Brand Narrative

Brand Messaging

Small

$25,000

/total

Discovery

Naming Brief

Name Development

Name Presentations

Trademark & Domain Prescreening

Design Brief

Logo Development

Logo Presentations

Brand Style Guide

Brand Positioning

Brand Purpose

Brand Voice

Brand Narrative

Brand Messaging

Medium

$75,000

/total

Discovery

Naming Brief

Name Development

Name Presentations

Trademark & Domain Prescreening

Design Brief

Logo Development

Logo Presentations

Brand Style Guide

Brand Positioning

Brand Purpose

Brand Voice

Brand Narrative

Brand Messaging

Large

$125,000

/total

Discovery

Naming Brief

Name Development

Name Presentations

Trademark & Domain Prescreening

Design Brief

Logo Development

Logo Presentations

Brand Style Guide

Brand Positioning

Brand Purpose

Brand Voice

Brand Narrative

Brand Messaging

Our Story

We are Catchword: a multidisciplinary team of namers, strategists, linguists, writers and designers with roots in marketing, linguistics, art and music. Since 1998 we’ve grown from a boutique to an award‑winning global naming and branding firm—1300+ projects, 650+ clients (including 50 Fortune Global 500), 100+ awards. We craft breakthrough brand names, naming strategies, and verbal identities, blending deep industry expertise with proven client success.

Meet the Team

Maria Cypher

Maria CypherPartner & Creative Lead

Maria’s career in naming and branding spans almost three decades, and she is regarded as one of the world’s leading namers, having created hundreds of brands for clients including Starbucks, Fitbit, Asana, Unilever, Upwork, Allergan, and Intel.

Mark Skoultchi

Mark SkoultchiPartner & Account Lead

Mark is a renowned naming and branding professional with almost 30 years of experience building global brands. From portfolio strategy and positioning to name development and design, there isn’t a brand development initiative he hasn’t overseen.

Lea Chu

Lea ChuExecutive Director

Lea has spent 15 years building, evolving, and transforming brands for clients like American Express, Meta, Wyndham, GE, BlueCross BlueShield, TSMC, General Motors, HBO, Bayer, 3M, and Habitat for Humanity.

Payal Jambusaria

Payal JambusariaProject Coordinator

At Catchword, Payal helps manage the logistics of retainer relationships with clients such as The Home Depot, assists with trademark and domain screening, and generally keeps the office humming.

Erin Milnes

Erin MilnesCreative Director

Erin has led naming and strategy projects for such well-known clients as PwC, Intel, Royal Bank of Canada, FICO, Stryker Medical Devices, and The Home Depot. Erin earned a BA from St. John’s College and studied voice at New England Conservatory.

What Sets Us Apart

Above and Beyond

What makes us different? In every aspect of our work, we go above and beyond, from exhaustive creative to the deepest discovery to relentless scrutiny on every deliverable. Whether it's a name, a positioning, or a full identity, we do more than expected to deliver work worthy of your brand.

Clutch verification provides an additional layer of data to help you make the right purchasing decision of business services.

Learn More
Verified Client Reviews
116
Overall Review Rating
5
Source
Clutch
Last Updated
June 4, 2026

Business Entity

Business Entity Name THE CYPHER GROUP, LLC
Jurisdiction of Formation California
Date of Formation May 5, 1998
Status Active
Last Updated October 31, 2020
ID 199812510013

Credit Report Results

International Credit Risk Assessment Low Risk
Source Creditsafe
Last Updated October 31, 2020
Learn More About The Clutch Verification Process

Locations (2)

3645 Grand Avenue OaklandCA, United States 94610

6 - 9

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