Help us with a name for our business

September 24, 2008 7:15 AM

After many weeks of consideration, my wife has decided to start a Spanish translating/tutoring business. Everything looks good, we've done our research, we're moving into an area where Spanish is taught k-12, we...just can't figure out a name for the biz. Help [more inside]

We've brainstormed over a few days trying to come up with clever names but we just get stumped. She wants something with a Spanish word in it, but not something that would require a tilde or difficult to type in a web address.

So do any of you have any clever business names that would say "hey, I can translate Spanish for you as well as tutor your children and/or small business?" Thanks in advance!

posted by Hands of Manos to writing & language (20 comments total)

Spanish Si! (note how cool the i! is )
Hablar Spanish
Spanish Translation Services Espanola
posted by furtive at 7:36 AM on September 24, 2008

!Ola Espanol!

I like your idea of using really simple Spanish words most people who don't know the language will still recognize, like a lighthouse beacon guiding them to you.

Another one:

Uno, Dos, Translate
posted by misha at 7:40 AM on September 24, 2008

Such a wide range of services leans more towards the "Business Name: Tagline" model, or a more boring descriptive business name. For example, I like "Uno, Dos, Translate" above, but I wouldn't think you did tutoring too.

So,

Hands of Manos Spanish Translation and Tutoring

(where "Hands of Manos" can be your locality name, wife's name or a Spanish word)

or

Help / Ayuda: Spanish Translation and Tutoring Services
posted by mikepop at 7:59 AM on September 24, 2008

"Everything Spanish"
posted by Xhris at 8:14 AM on September 24, 2008

oh these are so great!
posted by Hands of Manos at 8:19 AM on September 24, 2008

Are you also hoping to do Spanish --> English translation? Does the name need to be semi-recognizable in Spanish too?
posted by barnone at 8:56 AM on September 24, 2008

What about using a word that has roots in Spanish? Something from this list to riff off?

Or a common food or sensory experience from Mexico/Latin America? They'd be awesome for logos too.

Few quick ideas:
- Tamarindo (or Tamarind) - Translating and Tutoring
- Mango Translating and Tutoring
posted by barnone at 9:02 AM on September 24, 2008

(sorry, running out the door but wanted to throw ideas for brainstorming)
- Salsa - fresh language translating and tutoring services
- Tortilla
- Sombrero - we wear many hats (sorry languagehat)
- Matador
posted by barnone at 9:05 AM on September 24, 2008

I really like "Uno, Dos, Translate."
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 9:54 AM on September 24, 2008

How about Good Words/ Buenas Palabras : Translating and Tutoring
(I'm not sure of the spanish, but you get the idea)
posted by dhruva at 10:22 AM on September 24, 2008

Profesora Traductora: Tutoring and Translating
posted by gnomeloaf at 11:08 AM on September 24, 2008

I like uno, dos, translate. Very clever indeed.
posted by cachondeo45 at 12:34 PM on September 24, 2008

I like it too, my wife is a little dubious. I said "okay well it can be Uno, Dos, Tutor!"
posted by Hands of Manos at 12:38 PM on September 24, 2008

Are you also hoping to do Spanish --> English translation? Does the name need to be semi-recognizable in Spanish too?

If so, what about two business names? I doubt there is going to be a name that conveys simultaneously to english speakers: we tutor and translate and to spanish speakers: we translate.

For the spanish speakers, why not ¿Habla Inglés?
posted by arnicae at 1:25 PM on September 24, 2008

I'm not feeling Uno, Dos, Translate - it's a witty idea, but I really don't think it would make a great actual business name.

I think you should either go for deadly simple (function of business in the title, i.e. Name's Spanish Tutoring and Translating) or something not entirely obvious, and then you do the marketing. Think of all the ooodles of businesses that don't directly provide the business function in the name.
posted by barnone at 2:15 PM on September 24, 2008

I'm actually leaning towards the latter, something not entirely obvious or self-explanatory, come to think of it. What if you end up doing something more than tutoring and translating? Like organizing class trips to Mexico, or getting hired to help new Spanish-speaking immigrants adjust to the area, or whatever. If it has tutoring in the name, you won't be as recognizable in other fields. Obviously it's a line between something generic ("Flower Languages" or something) and something that references this line of work (like "Rosetta Stone" software, for example). I'll keep thinking of concrete ideas! But do think about down the line - you can't always predict where small a self-employed business like this might end up.
posted by barnone at 2:21 PM on September 24, 2008

- Mi Casa Spanish

- Spanish Casa (Spanish House)

- Spanish Gato (Spanish Cat)

- Spanish Mundo (Spanish World - I like this!)
posted by barnone at 2:25 PM on September 24, 2008

- Spanish Star
- Spanish Sense
- Spanish Language Lab
?
posted by barnone at 2:35 PM on September 24, 2008

excellent work everyone, I really appreciate all this. It'll give us a bunch of think about.
posted by Hands of Manos at 5:48 PM on September 24, 2008

Palabras
Voces
Sonidos
posted by signal at 6:38 PM on September 24, 2008