Catchword

The margin for error was slim with these wireless fitness trackers. Successful names would have to be short enough to fit on the small devices, and match the snappiness of the mother brand. In addition, the names would need to fit within a larger portfolio of related products and still telegraph each product’s distinguishing features. 

For Fitbit’s entry-level device, Zip was in the zone, followed

Volkswagen has some of the auto industry’s most iconic (and distinctive) cars and car names, from the Beetle to the Touareg. So we were excited when they called on us to name their sturdy 7-seat SUV, codenamed “CrossBlue.” Working with VW’s US, German and Chinese marketing teams, Catchword explored a broad range of messaging themes, and developed over 2500 name candidates. The global nature of the project meant we also carried

A software company formed by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and programming whiz Justin Rosenstein is clearly not ordinary. So, the company’s name also needed to stand out from the IT herd. Asana, a Sanskrit word conveying “yoga pose,” reflects the founders’ love of yoga and their quest for focus, flow, and clarity. It’s also an apt name for the company’s workplace productivity platform, which enables team members to

Blockchain mining needs huge amounts of energy, which has led to an increase in damaging fossil fuel consumption. Soluna seeks to solve this problem by creating the first blockchain company powered by its own private sustainable energy sources. A coinage of sol and luna (“sun” and “moon” in Latin), Soluna evokes human aspiration at its most fundamental – looking up at the great light in the sky. The name recalls “solution” as

Mochidoki – naming a premium confectionary product

Messaging directions and stylistic preferences are of course critical to developing a name for any product, but when it comes to foods and beverages there’s nothing more helpful than actually experiencing the new comestibles. And, when Catchword first sampled Gordon Dessert’s new line of mochi (a delectable combination of

Upwork – company naming for oDesk and Elance

Elance and oDesk, the two largest online platforms for connecting clients and freelance workers, decided to merge to combine resources in a new, unified brand. They called on Catchword to develop a name that would capture their vision and inspire their global community of independent professionals and the businesses hiring them. The

Artisan Chicken Sandwich – naming over 10 food & beverage items for McDonald's

Over the years, McDonald’s has engaged Catchword on a variety of naming-related initiatives. From McCafe naming strategy and architecture development to dressing up a burger with just the right name. On this occasion, one of Catchword’s names was selected for the Golden Arches’ new grilled

Crazy8 – retail brand naming for Gymboree

Gymboree needed a naming company to help them launch their sweet new line of kids’ clothes and retail stores. Finally, an assignment that matched our maturity level. After going through umpteen domain name searches (actually, the number was a lot higher than umpteen) and domain name brokering, we landed on a brand name and URL that worked on every

Clover Health – naming a new health insurance company

This health insurance start-up told us that they knew what was wrong with healthcare and how to fix it. By using data models, applications, and operations software, Clover seeks to realign the insurers, patients, and providers into a more efficient system that leads to better health outcomes for the most vulnerable

Nature's Promise – naming a family of organic products for Ahold USA

Ahold’s U.S. supermarkets (including Giant Food and Stop & Shop) sold more than 500 natural and organic products ranging from chips and salsa to pasta sauce and peanut butter. They challenged us to create a distinctive name that would quickly communicate the health benefits and general deliciousness of the entire

Fibrance – naming a revolutionary technology for Corning

Corning has engaged Catchword to name numerous technologies and businesses, including Fibrance, an innovative light-diffusing fiber that you can bend, curve, and wrap around almost anything, while maintaining bright, beautiful, and uniform light. It enables decorative lighting to be designed or embedded into tight or

Shomi - naming a new video streaming service for Rogers and Shaw

When Rogers and Shaw Communications, two of Canada’s biggest media companies, decided to launch a video-on-demand service, they knew they had to outperform Netflix. So, they hired a team of directors, screenwriters, and festival programmers to complement their recommendation algorithm, with the aim of reducing the time consumers need

Sunbird – naming a DCIM company and B2B platform for Raritan

When Raritan decided to spin off its Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software business, the company’s executive team and Catchword agreed that the name should steer clear of the “edgy tech” sound of its competitors and instead convey approachable confidence. Sunbird, a brightly colored songbird, is

Refreshers - naming a beverage platform for Starbucks

Made with green coffee extract and fruit juices, Starbucks’ line of sparkling cold beverages packs a natural, revitalizing punch. The nameRefreshers conveys that, without veering into the high-octane territory of energy drinks. And it’s inclusive enough to encompass handcrafted in-store beverages, sparkling canned product,

Optane – naming Intel's revolutionary technology

Intel’s innovations pretty much define modern computers, so when they asked us to name a technology that would revolutionize memory, we knew this wouldn’t be a routine software-update-naming-project. Deploying 3D XPoint technology, Intel’s next-generation memory combines the plasticity and speed of RAM with the resilience and

Vudu – naming a popular media streaming service

From the moment we heard about this online movie service, it had us under its spell. Users can instantly stream an almost infinite library of HD movies on demand—as well as new releases—directly to their Xbox 360®, PlayStation® 3, Blu-ray™ player, HDTV, iPad®, or computer. And the crispness of the definition and richness of the

Javiva – naming a blended beverage line for Peet’s Coffee

Unlike most leading blended iced coffee drinks, Peet’s Coffee’s new line would be hand-made with freshly brewed East African roasts. Peet’s and Catchword agreed the name should convey the premium quality, flavor, and exhilaration of these icy refreshments, as well as Peet’s unique personality and unwavering commitment to