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Branding

[ CONTEST ] How NASA Missed the Biggest Branding Opportunity Ever & What You Can Do About It

4 months ago NASA made a big announcement.

Huge really.

They discovered a new moon that’s been orbiting the earth for the last century and will continue to circle the earth for many centuries to come.

That’s right — for the first time in the few hundred thousand years of human existence, the moon we all know and love has a partner in its cosmic dance around the earth…

Gone are the days of orbiting the earth alone. It now has a companion to keep it company. Pretty romantic if you think about it!

But there’s a problem.

In my opinion , the folks at NASA missed a golden branding opportunity to have folks fall in love with space again.

Because they named this little moon… wait for it…

2016 HO3

Or “Quasi-Moon” for short.

“Quasi-Moon”….

You gotta be kidding me! Really?

We have a new moon on the block and NASA names it 2016 H03?

Is this some cosmic joke!??!!!

Being huge branding geeks, we weren’t sure whether to laugh or to cry over here at Live Your Message HQ, but we decided to try to do something about it.

We’re holding a contest to rebrand our new “Quasi-Moon” and give it a name worthy of a moon…

The winner will receive a seat at our next Call to Adventure Masterclass (valued at $497) where you’ll discover how to build a success business based on your Entrepreneurial superpower, and have 100% confidence that you’re choosing a niche you’ll love AND succeed in, all in just 5 days.

You have until Monday, October 17th at 5pm PT to submit your names for our new moon in the comments below this blog post.  (Please, no more than 3 submissions per person.)

You can choose to use the naming template we provide below (a sneak preview of the “How to Name Anything” book and app we’ll be releasing later this year)… or choose your own name. We’ll be choosing the shortlist at our company retreat on Monday night and invite you to cast your votes on Tuesday.

We plan on sending our new name directly to NASA…

Who knows? Your name may stick! Wouldn’t it be awesome to be the person who named the new moon?

OK, so how you name a moon?

Well there are 181 known moons in our solar system and most of them are named after characters in Shakespeare and ancient Greek gods and goddesses… a fitting name for a moon, I trust you’d agree.

You’ve got moons named Atlas, Callisto, Titan, Io and Prometheus.

These moon-names are based on what I call the Tower of Babel Brand (the 11th Template in our How to Name Anything Guide).

The Tower of Babel is a mythological story that’s been used to explain how the 6,500 languages in the world emerged… dividing humans into different linguistic groups where they couldn’t understand each other…

The Tower of Babel Brand approach is another one of the many branding approaches that emerged from the need to get unique domain names in a world of over one billion websites where URLs are worth their weight in gold.

We’ve just simply run out of URLs based on real words in the English language, so branders are inventing words, intentionally misspelling words and searching outside the English language for meaningful words to brands.

Whether they search the Sanskrit language, Hawaiian, Sioux, Hindi, Swahili or any of the other 6500 languages of the world, one things the human race is good at is creating language.

My student Priya Deepika Mohan named her method of sound healing the “Bhavana Sound Method”, combining the Tower of Babel Brand Template with the Solution Brand Template.

Bhavana means “cultivating one’s essence” in Sanskrit.  And also has variations in Poly, Hindi and other languages as well…

Here’s the thing, for Priya that name reflects her cultural heritage. She has a deep connection to the language and the meaning of the words.

Simply choosing a word from another language when you have no connection to that language or that word can feel like cultural appropriation, unless you take the time to really educate yourself on what it means. You don’t need to be part of that culture to use a word from that culture, but it is important to respect the cultural significance of that word and that language.

Here are a few more famous examples of Tower of Babel Brands:

• Lego combines two Danish words: “leg godt” which literally translates to “play well”, making it a hybrid of the Inventor Brand and the Tower of Babel Brand.

• While Nestle was named after their found Henri Nestle, the word also means nest in German, which is where the company’s logo came from….

• Etsy means “oh yes” in Italian and in Latin it means “and if”. Robert Kalin, the founder of Etsy was on the lookout for a meaningless word when he watched Federico Fellini’s movie 8½. He kept hearing the word “etsi”… and there you have it!

• Hulu is a Mandarin word with two distinct meanings. The first is a “gourd” that was often used to hold precious things. And the second is an interactive recording. Both meanings work for this video streaming technology.

• Pandora – means “all gifted” in Greek and is also the name of the Greek goddess who receives many gifts from the gods, including the gift of music… this one is a hybrid of the Tower of Babel Brand and the Cultural Reference Brand.

And of course, there are hundreds of yoga and lifestyle brands that pull from Asian culture.

Out of our 21 “How to Name Anything” Templates, the Tower of Babel Brand Template seems most appropriate for naming a moon. ☺

Post up to 3 names for our new moon in the comments below by Monday, October 17th at 5pm PT for a shot to win Call to Adventure and cosmic bragging rights….

Good luck!

Love it? Hate it? Let me know...

  1. Edwin Spiessens Avatar
    Edwin Spiessens

    Perierat Fília
    Reversus
    Gemina Pereunt

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thank you Edwin! What are the meanings and originations of these names?

  2. Ziji Beth Goren Avatar
    Ziji Beth Goren

    The first name that came to mind (after living in Taos and serving the Native American Community
    for 12 years) is TEWA (tee’wah). This is the name of the Native American language used by the Taos natives at the pueblo where I served. To me, it feels connected as I recall overnighting up on a high mesa one night, actually spotting a satellite within the shine of a star-studded sky. The second name that comes up is HULA, the traditional dance of the Hawaiian culture which
    speaks to every aspect of life thru hand movements and body rhythms. My third offering is MUNY,
    the transit system in San Francisco depicting a sense of movement/travel, as this new moon traveled to be nearer to her ‘mate.’ The name MUNY, though pronounced MYOO’NEE, also contains two of the same consonants as the word MOON.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Wow! Great suggestions Ziji Beth Goren! I love the thought and meaning expressed in these. I’ve visited the Taos Pueblo before… <3

  3. Shan Avatar
    Shan

    I name the moon Miranda. (What a great idea!)

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      That has a great sound Shan. Is there any meaning behind this name?

  4. Anthony Lawton Avatar
    Anthony Lawton

    Macarena Moon (its a new moon doing a dance with the earth 🙂 )

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      You had me laughing with this one Anthony!

  5. Helvi Mogritz Avatar
    Helvi Mogritz

    My suggestion is lunearth – a combination of lunar and unearth.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Nice! You’re doing an Inventor Brand and I didn’t even share that template… 🙂

  6. Karen Petley Avatar
    Karen Petley

    Twinkle

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Cute! Thank you!

  7. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Elske (means to love in Danish)

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      That’s sweet! Thanks Elizabeth…

  8. Thia Hostad Avatar
    Thia Hostad

    ANTRA (Lithuanian)
    KEDUA (Indonesian)
    ABUO (African Igbo language)
    My 3 names are all foreign words for Second (given this is our second moon)

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      That’s super creative Thia! Nice choices… 🙂

  9. David Norden Avatar
    David Norden

    I would call this mon “Zilpa” or “Akaban”.

  10. David Norden Avatar
    David Norden

    I would call this moon “Zilpa” or “Akaban”.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thanks for the submissions! What do these words mean and what language do they come from David?

  11. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    Hmmm. Tower of Babel names might not “stick” with a public uninterested in new rocks found in space. Stars are being named all the time–you can even buy the naming rights. The fun story here is that earth has a new moon, even if it’s not visible to the naked eye. I think the name needs to convey “moon” otherwise it’s just another rock in space. How about “moon sprite” or “moon too.” Both could be one word or two (moonsprite and moontoo).

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Great suggestions Dan and I agree with you that the other naming templates could work as well and be more accessible. I didn’t want to make the blog too long (since I have 21 naming templates). Lol 🙂 Great suggestions!

  12. Kim Marie Avatar
    Kim Marie

    How about Hanhepi wi, or Hanyewi, both of which are ways to say moon in the Lakota culture. Given that the indigenous peoples of the earth are making themselves known and heard more today as we desperately need to pay more attention to the Earth and Her plight, perhaps this new moon is here to help them! After all, the moon is feminine…just as the Earth is. 🙂

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Love the meaning and symbolism you’re attributing to this name Kim! <3

  13. Sunny Rose Healey Avatar
    Sunny Rose Healey

    Chandra. It’s a Sanskrit word meaning moon or a place like the moon. It also means the eye in a peacocks tail feather; glittering or shining (as in gold); having the brilliance of light or gold

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thank you Sunny Rose Healey – I love the double meanings here.

  14. Richard Medcalf Avatar
    Richard Medcalf

    Great fun idea Marisa!

    1. Moonette – we call the big one moon, so it’s little sister should be Moonette
    2. Mooneroid – it’s technically an asteroid, and doesn’t exactly orbit the earth but is in a kind of dance with it – so let’s give it a name with a bit of both in.
    3. SpaceMate – in the words of Wikipedia “this small asteroid is caught in a game of leap frog with Earth that will last for hundreds of years”. So it’s kind of a playmate for the earth, in space.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Awesome suggestions Richard! Thanks for sharing… 🙂

    2. Bren Ames Avatar
      Bren Ames

      Richard — What comes to my perhaps disturbed mind with Mooneroid is a double-posterior-entendre…
      Mooning + Hemorrhoid
      I love double entendres though!!! 😉

  15. Rob Vanden Heuvel Avatar
    Rob Vanden Heuvel

    NASA could have at least gone with Quasi-moono (who also stayed hidden)
    Or perhaps… Mini-moon.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Agreed! Not a lot of creativity expressed by NASA on this one…

  16. Tim Wilson Avatar
    Tim Wilson

    Second Moon. It’s simple, but immediately understood. The word “moon” has already stood the test of time, and “second” gives it a distinction from the first.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thank you!

  17. Theresa Avatar
    Theresa

    ” Awhatdat” – Island slang for something you never see before ‘ meaning what is that?

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thanks! That’s awesome Theresa. The word actually sounds like, What is that? 🙂

  18. Cynthia Avatar
    Cynthia

    Silly scientists assigning mundane names to newly discovered heavenly bodies…
    Arcanum Lunas – secret/ moon goddess.
    Bashful moon
    I’ll be back if I come up with another.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Totally Cynthia! Thanks for these… 🙂

  19. Charley Leyva Avatar
    Charley Leyva

    My names are a little more personal but that what makes them unique and fun! Since I met the love of my life the night of a full moon and ever since that night she has called it her “Charley Moon” I am going with that one first! 🙂

    I also think the “11:11 Moon” is appropriate because that is both our master numbers.

    And last name I would call it would be the “New Moon” since it is fairly new to Earth and our solar system and may only be around for a few hundred more years.

    1. Charley Moon
    2. 11:11 Moon
    3. New Moon

    Thanks for the opportunity to have some fun with this Marisa!

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Super cute Charley! What a blessing it is to find the love of your life… <3

  20. Vasile Mironeasa Avatar
    Vasile Mironeasa

    The best name should be :

    1 Wandermoon
    2 Wondermoon
    3 Moon two

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thanks Vasile!

  21. Cynthia Avatar
    Cynthia

    My third suggestion. Demitasse orb because the image I’ve seen has a large shadow at the top which looks like a large creator or cup.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Sounds like a boob! Lol 🙂

  22. Emily Matweow Avatar
    Emily Matweow

    Orbie
    Luneta (from Latin wee moon reversed)
    Miranda (from Latin mirandum “for surprise”)

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thank you Emily! Great names…

  23. Agnes Knowles Avatar
    Agnes Knowles

    My three suggestions line up thus:
    WeeCheez
    UnSun Hero
    Luna Validus

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Wow to go with the puns Agnes!

  24. Debbie Barrett Burton Avatar
    Debbie Barrett Burton

    There’s only one possible choice:
    AMIRISSA … Spanish Name Meaning – Derived from Amaris, CHILD OF THE MOON. Baby Moon came from Mama Moon, and named after our lunar leader. 🙂

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Love the meaning… and it sounds a little like my name!

  25. Isabelle Avatar
    Isabelle

    Arista

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      What’s the meaning of this name?

  26. Grace Izuchukwu Avatar
    Grace Izuchukwu

    I suggest:
    Minimoon
    Ultramoon
    Lunarultra

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Thank you grace!

  27. Valentin Avatar
    Valentin

    Missterra
    Words play and anagram for missing it until now, Miss Terra, the mystery one and so on!

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Love this! So mysterious… 🙂

  28. JoAnn Jordan Avatar
    JoAnn Jordan

    I found a beautiful Icelandic story (http://grapevine.is/mag/articles/2014/10/22/was-literatures-first-man-on-the-moon-an-icelandic-peasant/) that refers to the moon as “Levina”.

    Inspired by an old camp song, I also offer up “Little Lady”.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      Lovely story. Thank you!

  29. Linda Vorthman Avatar
    Linda Vorthman

    “Li’l Rock”
    A rather literal meaning.

    1. Marisa Murgatroyd Avatar
      Marisa Murgatroyd

      And a place on the earth too… thank you!

  30. Diana Weiss Avatar
    Diana Weiss

    Okay, So I am too late for the contest but i thought i would jump in for the fun and exciting adventure of naming the new moon, a once in a lifetime opportunity so far!

    HulaMoon. (it’s graceful, feminine, Plus I soooo love Hawaii!) Someone else said hula but i really liked it with moon attached.

    Mooniana- Derived by combining my own name and the word moon.(okay so its a little self serving) But Diana means Goddess of the moon and its feminine. so it seemed like a good fit. Also the Latin meaning is complete light or ray of light.Diana, the ancient Roman goddess of the moon and hunting was famed for her beauty and swiftness. A famous temple dedicated to Diana was in Ephesus, the capital city of Asia Minor. This temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the discovery of the “new Moon” is a wondrous thing. The apostle Paul spoke out against the worship of Diana, Godess of the moon
    BUT NOT OF THE NAMING OF HER.LOL….

    MoonRhea a combination of moon and ray of light with a twist/play on words. Rhea is also a femdine name. (One of my daughters Middle name)

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