WSJ.com (via mentalfloss.com) had a great article this week telling the story and derivation of some very successful electronics names (including Nokia, Nintendo, and Kodak).
How 16 Electronics Companies Got Their Names – WSJ.com.
The common theme is that they are all creative (CISCO is short for San Francisco; ATARI is from the board game Go; CANON is from “Kwanon” after the Buddhist goddess of mercy; MAGNAVOX is Latin for “great voice”). Many are made up words or creative twists on existing words, or inspired by foreign language terms.
If your goal is to have a big brand someday, having a strong trademark makes the climb to the top a lot easier. A brand name such as COUNTRY HARDWARE STORE or SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING PRO is nearly impossible to make stand out from the field of competition – and a nightmare for lawyers trying to protect it.
Lesson: Dream big, and dream up a great trademark to help your brand get there!
