When someone in our team comes across a great product name, we like to break it down to see why it works. We do this in order to help people looking to name their own product or company. Ethos Water is the cool name for a water company we’ll be discussing today. Even though you may not be naming a water company, you’ll find the tips applicable to almost any company or product.
Cool Name for a Water Company
Since our recent few blog articles have been about company naming or new brand or product names, we thought we’d keep the subject going.
The new product name that grabbed our attention is Ethos Water. It was on a recent on a trip to a nearby Starbucks, we came across this really interesting product name and, it really jumped out at us. Full honesty here, we’re not sure if it’s a new product or not as we can’t say we spend much time at Starbucks.
Firstly the name is a compound name, the combination of the words Ethos and Water. While there is now doubt as to what the product is or does by incorporating the word “water,” we’re not sure if we would have used the word. Our research has shown that, overly descriptive company names can be limiting in the long run.
Expanding Your Product Name
If this company is looking to expand in the future, they’d do well by simply rebranding themselves “Ethos.” You could have just about any beverage company in the world under that name. For example, they could expand into “Ethos Juice” or “Ethos Cola.” This company could expand into “Ethos Cups,” heck, “Ethos Electronic” or even “Ethos Space Travel” if they should so choose.
Moving on from water and, getting to the more interesting of the two words, let’s talk about the word “Ethos” for a moment. We think the choice of the word “Ethos” is brilliant, and for a few reasons.
To begin, we love that the product name “Ethos” sounds exotic. Ok, we know, the word ethos is part the English vernacular but, it’s still interesting sounding. If you read this blog you’ll know that we love business names or domain names with Greek or Latin roots, and that’s exactly what this is.
While Ethos is an English word it is from the Greek. Ethos means custom, habit or character in Greek but, that’s still the basis and meaning of the word in English. After looking up the company, I was delighted that the ethos or mission of the company was to “helping children get clean water.” While they are still designated as a for-profit company they have over the life of the company, till 2009 anyhow, donated $6 million to water and sanitation.
The ethos or mission of the company is to provide clean water where it is needed. That means, the product name is in total streamline with the mission statement of the company. This is a perfect example of a company looking at their mission statement and business plan for inspiration for their company name. It’s just another reason we love this company and its name.
Cool Names for a Product or Company
We’ve been a huge advocate for looking at your business plan for company naming inspiration and we believe this is what a Company Naming business should do. This is what we do at Brandings.
Ok, be warned here comes a shameless plug! When Brandings does a company naming project for one of our clients we make sure we know the companies Mission Statement and we know the core goals and, well ethos, of the company. The best company names come from within and you should always look at your Business Plan for inspiration.
Check out our Business Plan Checklist if you don’t have a Business Plan already and check out our other blogs on using your business plan as inspiration for company naming. Also check out our Brandings Custom Naming Plans, we have three different naming plans that one of them works for just about any size business, company or product you’re launching.
As always we’re happy to answer any questions if you post them below. Also, we’re always on the lookout for new blog ideas or company names to discuss. If you know of any standout company names or if you come across any from your every day life, we want to know. We’ll happily discus if it works or doesn’t in public so everyone can benefit from our thinking.
Thanks for reading our blog and we’ll be back soon with some more great tips and info for naming your company.