Discover the Ideal Name for Your Transportation Brand

By Grant Polachek

The transportation industry is one of the economy’s oldest and most crucial sectors. With the constant demand for the movement of people and goods, the biggest challenge for transport businesses is being unique and attracting customers in a sector where everyone offers similar services. Naming is a key part of starting any business.

But, these challenges can be solved by branding and finding the perfect name for your transportation business. And that’s because getting a great name will help you make a memorable first impression on your customers, setting the tone for your services.

Let’s quickly explore some tested and trusted ways to help you find exciting transportation company name ideas.

Five Steps to Getting the Perfect Name for Your Transportation Company

Align Your Name with Your Value Proposition when Naming

When selecting a name for your transportation business, it’s essential to consider how it aligns with your value proposition. Answering these questions can help you decide your brand’s identity and select potential names.

• What is different about your transport business?
• What unique services do you offer?
• How do you want customers to perceive your business?
• What type of customers do you want to attract with your services regularly?

If you’re offering luxury transportation services, you should pick a name that conveys a sense of luxury. Think of words that evoke images of wealth, opulence, quality, luxury, and sophistication. Some great examples are Luxury Limo, Luxe Rides, and Platinum Coach.

But don’t stop there; you also have to tailor all your services to match the image of a luxurious transportation company. Emirates is an excellent example of a luxurious transport brand—and its name and service quality all communicate its high-end identity.

Consider Using Metaphors, Visual Imagery, and Emotions

Metaphors, visual imagery, and emotions can be powerful tools when selecting a name for your transportation business. And that’s because these types of names form a clear image in the audience’s minds.

Think of words and phrases that capture the essence of your business and evoke emotions in your customers. These are the types of names that customers will respond to.

For example, a transportation business focused on eco-friendly vehicles should consider names like Green Wheels or Eco Express. The images created by a brand name like Green Wheels leaves are powerful and thought-provoking and communicate the idea of an environmentally conscious transport business.

Begin Brainstorming Names

Brainstorming is vital when searching for the perfect name for your transportation business. So, start by listing words and phrases that describe your business.

Think of synonyms, metaphors, and other words that capture the essence of your business. Then, consider combining these words to create a unique brand name.

You can also brainstorm great name ideas by looking at other successful transportation brands. Many transport companies use metaphors, visual imagery, and emotions to evoke a desirable feeling in customers.

Some of these brands are:

• Greyhound: Greyhound is a symbol of speed and agility. And this name perfectly evokes the idea of a speed-focused transport brand.
• Uber: Uber is a unique brand name that conveys the idea of a luxury ride without an expensive price tag.
• Bolt: Bolt does an excellent job of using a common word to instantly evoke the idea of speed and reliability.
• Lyft: Lyft is a fun, quirky name that conveys the idea of a friendly,  casual, and reliable ride.
• BlaBlaCar: BlaBlaCar is a funny name that pays homage to the brand’s carpooling service.

Brainstorm as Many Ideas as Possible

As you brainstorm names for your transportation business, embrace your creativity and think outside the box. Consider crowdsourcing and other creative ways to generate potential brand names. Ask friends, family, and colleagues for their ideas.

You can also use online agencies like Squadhelp naming services to help you find short, exciting names for your transport brand.

Pay Attention to the Top Transport Brands in Your Niche
It’s always helpful to analyze the top ten transport brands in your niche to understand what works and how you can go with the flow or follow a new naming path.

Doing this can give you new, creative ideas and help you understand how they used metaphors, visual imagery, and emotions to create their brand identity.

Use Audience Testing Before Making Your Final Decision

Performing audience tests is vital before deciding on the perfect name for your transportation business. Running the names you’ve found with a sample of your audience will help you understand which name draws attention, inspires action, and best aligns with your brand’s image.

However, being careful when asking questions in your audience testing is essential. Ask questions focused on the name, how it makes customers feel, whether it inspires them to take action and whether it conveys your brand values. Ensure you avoid asking leading questions that could lead to biased responses.

Validate Your Names with Trademark Research

Once you’ve brainstormed names for your transportation business and selected the best one for your brand, it’s time to validate them with in-depth trademark research. This will help you avoid any legal issues in the future.

That said, check the USPTO‘s database to make sure another business hasn’t registered the name you’ve chosen. Also, checking social media platforms and other websites is vital to ensure another company hasn’t already used the name you’ve found.

Now, you must realize that companies outside the transport industry with similar names may try to stop you from using a brand name if they feel it’s too related to theirs, and you could receive a cease and desist letter for using a brand name similar to theirs.

A great example was how Uber got sued by Uber Technologies for trademark infringement. You should do your best to avoid getting stuck arguing your brand’s trademark, as it could damage your brand’s reputation and financially hurt your business.

Six Transport Brands and How They Got Named

Let’s look at these six transport companies and how they got their brand names.

• Uber 

Uber was inspired by the German word “Uber,” which means “topmost, super, or unique.” It was named to reflect the vision of providing a unique and super experience.

As the company grew, it was re-branded with the catchphrase “Everyone’s Private Driver.” The idea was to reflect Uber’s personal service, transforming it from a transportation service to a lifestyle brand.

• Tesla

Tesla was named after Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the electric motor. The brand’s name was designed to honor Nikola Tesla’s genius and vision for transportation’s future. The brand embodies his ambition and dedication to revolutionizing transportation through electric vehicles.

• Lyft

Lyft’s brand name was created from the words “lift,” encapsulating the idea of a shared ride. The name also connotes the feeling of being taken from one destination to the next safely and reliably.

The name communicates the brand’s principles of community, collaboration, and a shared mission of reducing transportation costs and making transportation more efficient.

• Waymo

Waymo positions itself as a new way forward in mobility. The brand’s name is an amalgam of the words “way” and “mo,” the latter of which is a slang version of the word “mobile.” The name suggests a movement toward a future of self-driving vehicles and smart cities.

• Bird

Bird was inspired by the idea of freedom, seeing that the name strongly ties to the phrase “flying like a bird.” But that’s not all; the name reflects the brand’s mission to provide convenient, environmentally-friendly transportation.

• Scoot

Scoot is a play on the word “scooter,” with the idea being that the company provides rides in electric scooters. Scoot’s brand name does an excellent job of communicating the speed and efficiency of its services.

Finding the perfect name for your transportation business can be a challenging process. So, as a recap, ensure you devote time to brainstorming, researching, and extensively testing every word you find to ensure you find the perfect name.

Ensure your name aligns with your brand identity and value proposition and can emotionally connect with your audience. But no matter what you do,  always test your name with an audience before making your final decision. The last thing you want is to pick a name your audience will find offensive.

Grant Polachek is the head of branding at Squadhelp, a 3X Inc. 5000 company. Squadhelp is one of the top naming agencies trusted by new startups and Fortune 500 companies globally. After evaluating more than a million names, we’ve compiled a compelling collection of intriguing company and domain names that could be used for a wide range of industries.

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