# Naming Methodology Sources

Background reading and research behind the skill's approach. Not required
to run the skill; useful when users ask "where does this rubric come from?"

## Practitioners

- **David Placek / Lexicon Branding** — tension zone, sound symbolism,
  processing power (Vercel, BlackBerry, Swiffer, Pentium, Impossible Foods).
- **Scott Bair / Lunour** — "How to Name Your Company" playbook (2026).
- **Anthony Shore / Operative Words** — concepts before words.
- **Eli Altman / A Hundred Monkeys** — distillation, writerly naming.
- **Interbrand**, *In a Word* — funnel methodology.
- **Siegel+Gale** — naming strategy / nomenclature / validation.

## Books

- Alexandra Watkins, *Hello My Name Is Awesome* — SMILE / SCRATCH.
- Rob Meyerson, *Brand Naming* (2021) — process handbook.

## Research

- Alter & Oppenheimer (2006) — processing fluency and short-term judgments.
- Klink (2000) — sound symbolism in brand names.
- Motoki et al. (2022) — connotative meaning framework.
- Lewis & Frank (2016) — word length reflects conceptual complexity.
- Köhler (1929) / Ramachandran & Hubbard (2001) — Bouba-Kiki effect.
