Show HN: need a name for your new startup? We just launched a naming company

by keiferski • 14 years ago

4 5 14 years ago

keiferski3• 14 years ago

I've spent the better part of the last year or so learning everything about naming, and this is the result. Creating a name is a problem that every new startup (or product) faces, and for most people, it's a time-consuming and difficult process.

There are a lot of naming firms out there, but almost all of them are too expensive for a small startup (most charge $10,000 - $20,000+ minimum) and have questionable results. So, I (along with a few part-time friends) set out to offer a better product for a reasonable price - $299 per project. Since we're just starting out, the first 10 customers will get 50% off ($149).

A common question is "why wouldn't I just create a name myself?". Our answer is: if you want to make your own name, go ahead - many companies have. Check out our site for some naming tips. But, the idea is that if you're an average person, it's probably a waste of your time and your company's time. Not to mention that it's probably not your expertise (naming is as much a skill as anything else).

Some quick math: let's say you're worth $50-100 an hour (an average tech professional). If you spend any more a few hours, you're losing money. As many founders can attest, it can take weeks (and sometimes even months) to run through the naming process and come out with a winner - and it might not even be a good name. It really just comes down to economics: specialization is vastly more efficient - you're good at X, and we're good at naming.

All in all, you get quite a bit for your money. Each project comes with a detailed PDF report that analyzes each of the 5 names according to our methodology, which includes every metric you could possibly think of.

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I'd be glad to answer any questions here, or via email at (Contact at Nomvilla.com).

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Some links (from the nav bar):

How we create and analyze names: http://www.nomvilla.com/methodology

Names we've created: http://www.nomvilla.com/portfolio

Case studies and other articles: http://www.nomvilla.com/case-studies

An example of the report you'll receive (PDF): http://nomvilla.com/wp-content/uploads/images/Nomvilla-Sampl...

feiern• 14 years ago

I think this is a great idea with lots of potential, because one can easily put too much effort into the naming of things (as every hacker knows it's the only difficult thing besides cache invalidation).

But I have to ask: Why did you call your company "Nomvilla"? And am I right that it basically means "House of Names"?

keiferski3• 14 years ago

Yep, you've got it. Nom is the Latin root for "name" and the N-vowel-M form lends it to basically every Western European language (Nom in French, Nome in Italian, Nombre in Spanish, Namn in Swedish, etc.)

A villa is an upscale country house, usually in the Mediterranean or S America. Together they mean "a high class naming house", which is the brand we're trying to convey.

steventruong• 14 years ago

Most people have difficulties coming up with a name simply because of personal issues with names, not because a particular name isn't brandable. In other words, its because THEY are particular about the name, not because the name doesn't have merit.

With that said, on your methodology, some parts are contradicting. In one part, you argue a name should hint what it does, but on another, a name needs to be flexible to the long term strategy. The great companies often follow the latter, not the former. Personally I too prefer names that don't associate with a definitive meaning or product.

keiferski3• 14 years ago

I don't think its necessarily contradictory... more poorly worded. The name should hint at what it does, either through a direct correlation to the business, like Facebook, or by describing a quality the business has, like Amazon ("large selection of goods").

The idea here is to be "Facebook", not "College Students Directory". In other words, hint at the business while still being untied to anything specific.

Thanks for the feedback; I'll revise the copy.

Show HN: need a name for your new startup? We just launched a naming company

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