I’ve read a few threads on here to get inspiration for a first and last name for my company and I am really impressed with the suggestions on here. I’m looking for an english male first and last name for a fashion company which I’ve founded and it’s proving really challenging. Unfortunately I cannot use my name as it is extremely unmarketable.
If you look at other fashion brands they seem to have one thing in common; they sound very nice when said out loud. Think of Chaaaanell, or Gioorgio Armaaani, Versaaacee, Guuucci, Diooorr, Haaalston, Raalph Laauuren. I’m of course exaggerating how this names are said out loud but I haven’t seen many brands that have choppy names like Depp, [name_m]Chuck[/name_m], etc. There’s [name_m]Tom[/name_m] [name_m]Ford[/name_m] but I think he is one of the few exceptions.
Also, on average, most brand names seem to be 4 to 6 letters long.
I was hoping you might have some cool English male name suggestions that you could share with me? I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you! It would be great to hear a few more suggestions – the more the better.
A few names that I thought of (after going through a database of over 50,000 surnames) were MARTYN, [name_m]DALTON[/name_m] and KABAN; but although nice, I feel they lack that ‘star’ quality to them that names like [name_m]Thierry[/name_m] Mugler or [name_m]Gianni[/name_m] Versace have, and if you want to go English, names like [name_m]Ralph[/name_m] [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] or [name_m]Marc[/name_m] Jacobs (simple but so catchy).
Confused a bit, do you want a first and last name Like [name_m]Giorgio[/name_m] [name_u]Armani[/name_u] or the single name (4-6 letters) like [name_f]Gucci[/name_f] or [name_f]Chanel[/name_f]?
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]? Maybe With a one syllable name like [name_m]George[/name_m], [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_m]Scott[/name_m], [name_u]Grey[/name_u]…
[name_m]Thomas[/name_m]?
I get that you want something that follows the glamorous/catchy pattern of [name_m]Ralph[/name_m] [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] etc. for marketing reasons, but can’t you think outside the box a bit? It all seems very dull and inauthentic to follow the trend.
My favourite designer is Meadham Kirchhoff… can’t you just find a few really quirky or exotic surnames? Or even ones you feel particularly drawn to for personal reasons, like grandparents maiden names or something… add a bit of meaning? Or an unusual place name? [name_m]Even[/name_m] an old movie star?
Actually a first and last name. Brands like [name_f]Gucci[/name_f] and [name_f]Channel[/name_f] used to have two names also (Guccio [name_f]Gucci[/name_f] and [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] '[name_f]Coco[/name_f]" [name_f]Channel[/name_f], respectively) but once the designer dies and someone else takes over it is customary to drop the first name.
What I mean by 4 to 6 letter names is that in general names and surnames tend to be this size, and also if the first name is 5 letters then the surname is 6, if the first name is 4 letters then the surname is 5. Have a look at various brands, you’ll notice the difference of one letter between the surname and first name. I have no idea why this is the case – perhaps it’s just coincidence.
I agree with you on that, fun names like Meadham Kirchhoff can appear very authentic (and in this case match the brand identity perfectly). But it makes me wonder, if after the buzz of extremely contemporary design cools down, are names like this much more difficult to adapt to newer trends if people associate these ‘very different’ names only to a specific style? Personally I think in a long-term perspective, playing it safe with the name could work in the designer’s favor.
I wouldn’t (want to) buy clothes from a label where the name was a male name that wasn’t the designers. That’s just weird. What kind of clothes is it? Maybe you could find a mythological name or a word that embodies some of the philosophies and creative forces of your clothes? Or use a nickname (like [name_f]Miuccia[/name_f] Prada did with Miu Miu) or a name of someone you love (like [name_f]Consuelo[/name_f] Castiglioni did with [name_f]Marni[/name_f]).
Obviously some designers have a God given advantage by being Italian, [name_m]French[/name_m], Spanish or Perisan as the names sound delicious even though they’re not special ([name_u]Jean[/name_u] [name_m]Paul[/name_m] Gaultier, anyone?), and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]McQueen[/name_m]'s name was fabulous, but [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] [name_m]Conran[/name_m], [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] Wakeley and [name_m]Gareth[/name_m] Pugh do well without these fantastic names. And their names are their own, I love that.
For sure, that’s something I’ve definitely considered and worry about – but it would still be great to hear some names that people on here consider really ‘fabulous sounding.’
Thanks! What sort of surnames would you pair these with? I particularly like the name [name_m]Jeff[/name_m], it reminds me of [name_m]Jeff[/name_m] Koons.