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How to Name an Ice Cream Business:
Step-by-step guide to coming up with an authentic, memorable, and meaningful ice cream business name.
Start a list.
Write down any ideas you already have.
You may already have some ideas for an ice cream business name. If so, go ahead and write them down.
Highlight or star your favorites as you go.
This will make it easy to narrow down the list later on, while letting you jot down all ideas that may spark something further down the line.
The words you add to the list don’t have to be fully formed ice cream business names. They can be words or concepts related to the ice cream business that can help you arrive at the final name.
Perform essential research before you name your ice cream business.
Review your business plan.
If you’ve got a business plan for your ice cream business, the research there should give you ideas for words, phrases, and concepts that fit your brand.
You may find helpful keywords if you look at the nature of your ice cream business. For example, what type of ice cream do you sell? Do you have a delivery or pick-up service? Do you cater to special requests, like ice cream cakes for birthdays, etc.? You'll create a more descriptive name by adding relevant keywords.
Talk to likely customers.
This is something you’ll want to do, no matter what, to learn more about the people you’ll be catering to. While you’re meeting with them, be sure to write down words, phrases, and concepts that they associate with ice cream businesses.
While conducting your market research, try to find out what potential customers' most beloved ice cream brands are. You can add these names to your list of competitors and do in-depth research on them later.
Review words specific to the ice cream business.
Analyze established ice cream businesses.
One of the best ways to find ice cream name ideas is to look at what's already been done and to learn from those examples. Using your own knowledge and the data gathered from potential clients, closely examine existing ice cream business names, writing down all the keywords that could be used in your own business name.
Don't limit yourself during the research phase. When analyzing successful ice cream business names, don't restrict yourself to businesses that are similar to yours. If you're starting, for example, your own dessert shop, you could also look at established confectioners, chocolatiers, and even get a few ideas from coffee shop businesses. When you look at adjacent industries, you might be surprised at what you find!
Join the conversation on social media.
Use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to keep abreast of trends in the ice cream business. Find out what cool desserts are trending and if there are any dessert challenges that could spark name ideas. Join dessert, ice cream, chocolate, and confectionery groups to help stay in the loop.
Think about your offerings.
What aspects of your ice cream business set you apart from all the others out there? Do you have a specialized delivery service where customers can gift ice cream cakes to loved ones? Or perhaps you go a step further than flavor-of-the-month by creating limited-edition ice creams like faloodeh, granita, and mochi, that adventurous customers can try. Look for keywords by analyzing your services and products. This way, you'll create a name that's uniquely yours.
Do you have ice cream suitable for lactose intolerant and vegan customers?
Decide what kind of ice cream business you will be.
Will you be a self-serve, novelty, or gourmet parlor, or simply have an ice cream truck? You could look for keywords by closely examining the nature of your business.
Determine the setting of your ice cream shop.
Will there be seating for clients or will you have a takeaway ice cream business? Think of the type of atmosphere you want to create.
Consider clients' dietary preferences.
Will you stock only dairy ice cream or have healthier keto and vegan options available?
If you use ingredients like gelatin and collagen in your ice cream, make sure that they're Halal and Kosher-certified to appeal to a wider target market.
Reflect on your own personal story.
Is there a charming story behind your ice cream business that you could weave into your brand narrative? Maybe your father passed the art of ice cream making down to you and it's been your childhood dream to run your own ice cream parlor? Sharing your own success story with the public can help generate interest in your brand, and using keywords that reference this story can make for a timeless ice cream business name.
Remember it might open you up to scrutiny when you share personal details with the public, so make sure your online presence is above board and that you're ready to answer any questions as politely as possible.
Brainstorm region-specific vocabulary.
Try city and state names and nicknames.
City and state names and nicknames can sometimes work well for a local ice cream business. For example, "The Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop at Ghirardelli Square," "Big Apple Dairy Desserts," and "Ice Cream Company of South Florida Inc."
Consider your street name if you’ve got a location.
A street name can help people find your ice cream business, make naming easy, and connect it to a neighborhood or sense of place. For example "Ice Cream on Grand" and "Main Street Ice Cream."
You'll want to be sure you'll be at this location for a long time. You don't want to call yourself "2nd St. Ice Cream" if you have to move to 3rd St. a few years later.
Review local landmarks.
Local landmarks can be another great way to tie your ice cream business to its location. For example "Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory," "Central Park Ice Cream Stand," and "I Scream! Kiosk at Times Square."
Create more name ideas from your list.
Combine words from the list.
Try combining various words from your list to see if they form any interesting, unique names.
Some common words you may want to use in your ice cream business name include "creamery," "lounge," "dairy," "homemade," and "co." Using old English words like "shoppe" could also help your ice cream business stand out.
Use a name generator.
NameSnack can help combine your ideas and make associations that you wouldn't have thought of. This name generator is absolutely free to use.
NameSnack's AI will prompt you to add different words. You can try adding them all, or go with smaller groups.
Write down any ice cream business names you like.
NameSnack will also tell you if the domains are available. Check the ones that have domains off on your list.
Review and reflect.
Read through your list again.
See if there are any ice cream business names that stand out, and mark them.
Set the list aside for a day or two.
Come back with fresh eyes and see which names stand out. Also, see which names you still remember. This may give you a clue as to which ones are most memorable.
Get feedback on your top ice cream business names.
See what potential customers think of the names.
Survey people that are likely to be customers. Target them as closely as possible - consider going to potential locations and surveying people during a busy time.
Visit a few places where potential customers are likely to go, like shopping centers, parks, busy streets, and get some feedback from them. You could also use Reddit or online marketing platforms to get objective feedback.
Test the names on friends and colleagues.
Read your names to friends and colleagues, and get their take on your ice cream business names. Come back a day or two later and see which ones they still remember.
Try jumbling the names up when you read them out to each of your colleagues and friends. People tend to remember the first and last items on lists, so altering the order will give you a more accurate idea of which names are most memorable.
Check availability.
See if the web domain name is available.
Use a site like Namecheap to see which of your top business name ideas have related URLs available.
See if the name is already in use in your state.
If the business name is already in use for a similar business in your state, it's likely won't be able to use it.
Check the names on Google.
Google your favorite ice cream business names to see if there are any other well-known ice cream businesses with the same name, or if there are some associations you hadn’t thought of.
Conduct a trademark search.
Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office's trademark database to find out if the name you have in mind is still available.
Use this handy guide to learn how to conduct a trademark search.
Get the name.
Buy the domain name.
You can do this through sites like Namecheap.
Register the business name with the state.
You'll need to register the name in your state once you've chosen it. In most states this is fast and easy, and can be done online.
Consider trademarking the name.
This offers additional protection from other businesses using your ice cream business's name.
