6 Practical Methods for Naming a Propitious Company:
1) Auspicious Phrase Naming Method
Words such as "Xing" (兴), "Long" (隆), "Yuan" (源), "Mao" (茂), and "Fa" (发) frequently appeared on the signs of old shops. This was because merchants in those days liked to seek good fortune, valuing auspicious sayings. For example, the well-known Yueshengzhai was founded in 1775 with its name meaning "Prosperous Every Month." The first Chinese-owned brewery, Shuanghesheng Five-Star Beer Factory in Beijing, was established by Zhang Ge from Shandong and others. The name "Shuanghesheng" implies "jointly run by two parties, leading to flourishing wealth."
2) Specialized Character Naming Method
Specialized characters fall into two categories: one includes habitual words used in certain industries, while the other comprises characters that have become especially favored in some trades over long historical development. Traditional Chinese medicine stores often use the character "Tang" (堂), such as Tongrentang and Caitongdetang; Western medicine pharmacies use "Fang" (房), like Huamei Pharmacy and Guanxin Pharmacy; Western restaurants use "She" (社), such as Huamei Western Restaurant and Dedaxican Western Restaurant.
3) Catering Naming Method
Incorporating popular auspicious phrases into company or shop names to cater to customers' desire for blessings, thus attracting business.
4) Elegant Character Naming Method
This is a uniquely Chinese way of naming commercial establishments. Influenced by Confucian thought, China traditionally has had a preference for literature over commerce. Therefore, some merchants named their businesses akin to a scholar's study, using terms like "Zhai" (斋), "Ge" (阁), "Xuan" (轩), "Ju" (居), and "Yuan" (园).
5) Name Combination Method
As mentioned earlier, companies like Japan's Matsushita Electric and America's Ford Motor Company are examples of this type of naming method where the founder's name is incorporated.
6) Colloquial Expression Naming Method
Colloquial expressions tend to be more oral and down-to-earth. Companies named using colloquial expressions often find their names more readily accepted by the general public. Famous examples include Wang Mazi and Goubuli. Names like "Haochilai" (好吃来) for sunflower seeds and "Xiandelai" (鲜得来) for pork ribs resonate loudly and give people a sense of familiarity.