October 27th holds a special place in our hearts; it’s the day when our brainstorming and decision-making culminated in the official birth of ‘elSpectra.’ For Chiranth and me, finding the perfect name for our company wasn’t just a necessity—it was a mission. We wanted a name that reflected our commitment to giving Tech and IT narratives a new depth, clarity, and impact, combining our analytical skills with our creative passions.

We explored a multitude of names, from ‘Makers & Relaters’ and ‘Relations’ to ‘DuVista’ and EveryVista,’ but it was ‘elSpectra’ that ultimately captured the essence of what we envisioned.

The Journey towards ‘elSpectra’

Meaning and Words: Unearthing the Core

In our journey to christen our brainchild, the initial pursuit was not for a name but for the words that encapsulated our core. This introspective expedition was less about surface labels and more about discovering the terminology that resonated with the spirit of our mission. The narrative of our identity was sculpted through three critical revelations:

‘Makers and Relaters’: A Moment of Clarity

Our naming journey hinged on duality: blending analytical and creative energies to resonate with tech firms’ stories. “Relaters” surfaced, highlighting our storytelling mission, while “Makers” captured our technical creativity. Though “Makers and Relaters” sparked interest, it felt too cumbersome. Despite not making the cut, it was a catalyst, sharpening our vision and propelling us toward our ultimate choice.

‘DuVista and EveryVista’: Exploring Multi-faceted Perspectives

Our journey led us to ‘vista,’ symbolizing far-reaching views and a sequence of envisioned events, mirroring our inter-disciplinary approach. ‘DuVista’ and ‘EveryVista’ played with this concept, but ‘vista,’ with ambiguous interpretations and common use in hospitality, missed the mark for our tech narrative. It wasn’t our endpoint, but a crucial step towards a name capturing our essence.

‘Emotion and Logic’: A Pub, a Question, and Aristotle

The turning point in our quest came unexpectedly in a casual pub setting. “What’s the fundamental foundation of Math?” a close friend and confidant inquired, unknowingly igniting a eureka moment. The answer? “Logic.” This simple yet profound realization steered us towards Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals — Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. We zeroed in on ‘Pathos’ and ‘Logos,’ epitomizing the emotional and logical facets integral to impactful storytelling. It was a breakthrough, aligning seamlessly with our vision and eventually inspiring our final choice.

Form and Sound: Crafting elSpectra

Shifting from conceptual depths to linguistic artistry, our focus turned to the tangible elements of our brand’s title. This stage was a quest for a name that was a sonic and visual emblem, epitomizing brevity, elegance, and memorability. Beyond a mere identifier, we were sculpting an auditory and visual symbol:

Brevity and Resonance: Pursuing Auditory Elegance

We steered away from the lengthy word-1 and word-2 structure, seeking a snappier, more intriguing name. Chiranth’s friend’s advice was a game-changer, prompting us to envision introducing our company out loud. The new rule was clear: no more than ten characters. This shift honed our attention on how a name sounds, moving us closer to our final choice, where brevity meets auditory grace.

Lyricality and Flow: The Musicality of Names

Our quest for the perfect name led us to consider its musicality. Being passionate about music, I wanted a name that sang. Chiranth pointed out an interesting trend: many global female names, like Sunita, Laura, Naomi, or Lakshmi, end with “a” or “i,” creating a lyrical flow. This soft ending ensures the name blends smoothly in speech, unlike the abruptness of a consonant finish. This revelation was instrumental, guiding us towards the melodious allure of our final choice, where the name itself is a tune.

The Finale: Emotion and Logic – Spectra, a Harmony of Duality and Multiplicity

Our naming journey reached its peak with two key words: “Emotion” and “Logic.” The goal was clear — under ten characters, ending with a melodious note. “Spectrum,” symbolizing diversity and depth, caught our attention, but we represented more — an emotional and a logical spectrum. The solution? “Spectra,” the plural form. Yet, “Emotion and Logic Spectra” exceeded our limit. The breakthrough came with initials, giving birth to “elSpectra” — a name where meaning, duality, lyricism, conciseness, and depth harmonize. It’s not just a name; it’s our identity, reflecting our obsession with depth and the musicality of words.

“elSpectra? It’s our ‘who,’ ‘what,’ ‘why,’ and ‘how!’ A fun tag that mirrors our obsession with depth and expression, serving us and our clients!”

Depiction and Versatility: Delving into Deep, Playful, and Extendible Design

Post-elSpectra naming, we tackled its depiction. Budget-conscious, we opted for a simple text logo and “el” for our social avatar. Chiranth then had a brainwave: why not an emblem, especially one inspired by Yin and Yang? We reimagined it, blending Emotion with a dash of Logic and vice versa — unconventional, maybe, but it clicked for us. With Powerpoint, Chiranth drafted versions, morphing from doodles to sleek designs.

Here’s a glimpse of our creative evolution, showing that elSpectra is as much about playful depth in imagery as it is in thought and expression.

Our Learnings

1. Core Values Embodied:
   • Our chosen name, in its depth, is more than just a label. It encapsulates our dual essence of logic and emotion, perfectly embodying the inter-disciplinary skills we bring to our team and clients.
2. Significance of Names in B2B vs. B2C:
   • For a B2B tech agency like ours, an immediate resonance of the name isn’t always crucial. Over time, as the business evolves and grows, the significance behind the name might come to the fore. However, it’s never a given.
3. Uniqueness and Longevity:
   • While crafting a unique identity has its merit, it’s the ever-changing nature of the business world that keeps us grounded. Mergers and acquisitions can overshadow individual brand identities.

Contrarian Views

The process of naming a company often involves deep consideration of both meaning and form. However, there are contrarian views that challenge the importance or necessity of this process. Here are some:

1. Overemphasis on Name:
   • The real brand-builder is product/service quality, not the name itself.
2. Recognition Comes with Time:
   • A name gains significance through consistent marketing and customer experiences, not inherent meaning.
3. Keep It Simple:
   • Names should be straightforward and descriptive, avoiding complexity or confusion.
4. Future-proof Naming:
   • Choose versatile names; companies evolve, and their names should remain relevant.
5. Global Market Challenges:
   • Pursue culturally neutral names, considering the diversity and linguistic nuances of a global audience.
6. SEO is Key:
   • Digital visibility might trump deep meanings; names should be SEO-friendly.

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Who we are, after-all!

We’re deep-divers at heart, you know? Couldn’t just pick a name; had to find ‘the one’ with a tale, a vibe, a whole echo of ‘us.’ It’s gotta mean, gotta sing, gotta be our story. That’s just how we roll!

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Meanings of Words used – from ChatGPT

1. Makers:
   • Individuals or entities that create or produce something, often implying craftsmanship, innovation, or entrepreneurship.
2. Relaters:
   • Those who tell stories or relate events, or individuals who are able to empathize with or connect to others.
3. Vista:
   • A distant view or prospect, often scenic, or a mental view of a succession of remembered or anticipated events.
4. Vistas:
   • Plural of vista; referring to multiple distant views, prospects, or mental perceptions of future possibilities.
5. Ethos:
   • The characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations.
6. Pathos:
   • A quality that evokes pity or sadness, the emotional aspect of artistic expression.
7. Logos:
   • The principle of reason and judgment, associated with the attempt to persuade an audience using logical arguments and supporting evidence.
8. Emotion:
   • A natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others, often intense and subjective.
9. Logic:
   • Reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity, a systematic approach to problem solving or decision making.
10. Spectrum:
    • A band of colors, as seen in a rainbow, produced by separation of the components of light by their different degrees of refraction. In broader terms, it’s used to classify something in terms of its position on a scale between two extreme points.
11. Spectra:
    • Plural of spectrum; referring to multiple bands or ranges of varying qualities, often in the context of abstract concepts or classifications.
12. Inter-Disciplinary:
    • Combining ideas or tools from different disciplines to create something new or solve a problem.
13. Multi-Disciplinary:
    • Involving several academic disciplines or professional specializations in parallel, each contributing from its perspective.

Thanks a lot for reading. It means a lot to us!