Skip Header Navigation

Next Great Innovator > Blog

Text size: NormalLargeExtra Large

Blog

« Symposium Youth Panel Insight | Main | Teen Consumer Trends for 2007 »

What's in a Name?

Choosing a name can be an arduous task, whether it’s for a new company, product or unborn child. The experience seems to stoke the passion of those involved, and it’s easy to understand why. After all, a name is more than an identifier – for better or worse, names are highly suggestive. Naturally, people are concerned about choosing a name that projects the right image.

I had a lot of fun poring over team names that were registered for the Next Great Innovator Challenge and recently took a moment to extract some trends you might find interesting. Funny or frightful, absurd or delightful, here’s a look at some of the naming trends that caught my eye.

Most Popular – Selected by three different teams, the most popular name was Synergy – presumably a reference to the cooperative interaction among team members. Team Synergy and Synergistic Innovators must have been on a similar wavelength.

Also Popular – A few names were each selected by two teams, including Prometheus, Team Extreme, Team Kiai, and The Executives. While I realized immediately that Prometheus was borrowed from Greek mythology, it took a little bit of research to recognize kiai as the explosive yell that accompanies the release of energy in some martial arts.

Initials – Always nice because they acknowledge the individuals that comprise a team, initials were a very popular choice. Variations on this theme included AJA, AKAZ, BSG, ESGB Consulting, JLK Dynamics, KJM Funds, KMS Innovators, KPMB Consulting, MRS, MSM, The MAC Trinity, and VIC.

Acronyms – Though not as numerous as names based on initials, there were a few catchy acronym-based names to be found. Examples included Bank On Us (BONUS) and Return on Innovation (ROI). Other names appeared to be acronyms, but I confess that I wasn’t able to tell what they stood for.

Mash-ups – Take two words, throw them together, and see what you end up with. This must have been the methodology behind team names such as Creatovators, Innovateen, Technovations, Teenovation, and Zennovation. I’m sure Bennifer and Brangelina would be proud.

School Spirit – It was great to see school spirit driving some of the name choices. Among the most spirited names were GuelphsGreatest, HEC Investing in Innovation, Huskies, IVEY_INNOVATIONS, McGill Zeitgeist, Rotman Raiders, RotMANIACS, SMU IMPACT, Team ULeth, The Schulich Wraptors, UNBC Magnificent Moose, and UPEI Panthers.

RBC Props – A few teams used the naming exercise as an opportunity to acknowledge RBC. I guess I should thank RBC Champs, RBC Rocks!, and RBC Wannabees for this kind form of recognition. After careful consideration, I figure I should thank Real Business Chicks for the same reason.

Industry Props – Some team names reflected the general banking or investing industry, instead of referring specifically to RBC. Examples included Bank On Us and Banking on Innovation. It’s also good to see that some teams are Thinking Outside the Bank. Investinus might be construed as a direct appeal, but it could easily pass as a Latin expression.

Innovation Flavours – This being a competition about innovation, one would expect innovation to feature prominently in some of the team names. It certainly did with a particular group of monikers, including Innov, Innovatia, Innovation Station, Innovative Spudsters, Innovator, and Innovatoria.

Excellence – Judging by some of the team names registered, there is no shortage of confidence among challenge participants. Certain names just exude self-confidence, including Choice Decisions, DominantStrategy, Dynasty, Haligonian Prodigies, Paramount, Prodigy, Team Supremo 3000, and The Elite.

Global Vision – Clearly, some of the teams registered in the challenge are thinking globally. This must be the case with names such as Foreign Innovators, Global Marketers, and imagiNATIONS. You could make the same argument for Jakarta, Geneva, and perhaps Mosaic.

Grammar Rebels – I’ve heard of creative writing, but creative spelling must be the new trend. How else would you explain a name like Easix Cre8ive? You also have to admire those that are unrestricted by lettering conventions. Would you describe ThE AkAdeMiKs that way?

Wonderfully Wacky – Some names simply defy description. What can you say about Flaming Maple Sox or Kids With Crayons? The same holds for What Ever Mom! and What’s the Red Part. And why are none of the Tom and Jerry team members named Tom, or Jerry?

Good Heavens – A surprising number of team names took their inspiration from the heavens. Consider Altitude, Schulich Stargazers, Solar Extravaganza, Stellar, and SunShine. The skies might even be a guide for Three Wise Men looking for Immaculate Conceptions.

Thanks to team leaders and members for coming up with such wonderfully creative team names. If final challenge submissions are even half as innovative, the Next Great Innovator Challenge will be a surefire success!

Posted by Nelson T. on November 14, 2006 11:55 PM

Comments (2)

Heather Rivera :

Hello Mr Nelson;

Our team, the "Stoic Spartans" was hoping you could provide us with, or direct us to, some RBC banking statistics.

We would like to know how many children between the ages of 12 and 18 currently have bank accounts with RBC, how many Canadians bank with RBC, and how many of your clients have children. This information will greatly help us in our analysis of our great and inovative ideas!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Heather Rivera
Team Leader

Posted by Heather Rivera

Nelson T. :

Hi Heather,

I can answer a couple of your questions.

Approximately 10 million Canadians have bank accounts with RBC. About 450,000 of these clients are between the ages of 12 and 18.

Hope that helps!

Posted by Nelson T.

Post a comment






Submitted comments must relate to the RBC Next Great Innovator Challenge. All comments will be reviewed and only approved comments will be posted. HTML is not allowed. Comments that include personal attacks on RBC or RBC Employees or other participants in this forum, make obviously false or unsubstantiated allegations, or include vulgar or libelous language, will not be approved. Posted comments are the views of the individual author and not of Royal Bank of Canada. By submitting a comment, you agree to be bound by the Terms of the Innovator Blog.