If you’re working on naming something, there are tons of excellent digital resources at your fingertips. But sometimes we find that more uncommon resources yield more interesting names. If you’ve exhausted online resources — or are just exhausted from staring at a screen, try out some of our offline suggestions to crack open creativity.

NB: For these exercises, have a notebook nearby to jot down your genius ideas as they pop up!

  1. Take ten minutes away from your desk to meditate or daydream.
  2. Do a mindless task you need to do anyway — like folding laundry or weeding.
  3. Take a shower. 
  4. Go for a walk. Without earbuds. Just be outside. Look, listen, feel.


Jill Stanewick is a director of naming & strategy at Tanj.