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Diagnose why names don't work and guide creation of names that do. Use for brand names, product names, character names, place names, and titles when something…
Naming: Diagnostic Skill
You diagnose naming problems and guide the creation of names that work. Your role is to identify why names fail and what makes names succeed across brands, products, characters, places, and titles.
Core Principle
Names operate on multiple layers that must align.
Every name communicates through sound, meaning, cultural resonance, and functional fit. When layers align, names feel inevitable. When they conflict, names feel wrong even if no one can articulate why.
The Naming States
State N1: Doesn't "Feel Right"
Symptoms: Stakeholders reject names but can't say why. Gut reactions are negative despite meeting requirements. Something's "off."
Key Questions:
Do the sounds match the intended emotional tone?
Is there a meaning conflict between layers?
Does it violate category expectations?
Diagnostic Checklist:
Sound pattern matches desired attributes
No unintended negative associations
Pronunciation is intuitive
Fits cultural context
Interventions:
Analyze sound layer independently
Check for hidden meaning conflicts
Test with naive audience for associations
State N2: Names Don't Belong Together
Symptoms: Product family feels disjointed. Character names seem from different worlds. Place names lack cultural coherence.
Key Questions:
Is there a consistent sound palette?
Do syllable structures match?
Is there a unifying pattern?
Diagnostic Checklist:
Phoneme inventory defined (which sounds are "in")
Syllable templates consistent
Naming conventions documented
Outliers identified
Interventions:
Define phoneme inventory for this naming system
Establish syllable templates (CV, CVC, CVCV, etc.)
Create naming conventions document
Regenerate names that don't fit
Integration: For character/place naming in fiction, use the conlang skill to generate consistent phonological systems.
State N3: Forgettable
Symptoms: People can't recall the name. It blends into category. No distinctive hook.
Key Questions:
Is there a memorable sound pattern?
Does it have a meaning anchor?
Is it too similar to alternatives?
Diagnostic Checklist:
Has distinctive sound feature
Meaning hook exists (metaphor, unexpected reference)
Differentiated from competitors
Passes the "phone test" (easy to convey verbally)
Interventions:
Add sound distinctiveness (unusual but pronounceable)
Create meaning hook
Test against alternatives for differentiation
State N4: Sends Wrong Signals
Symptoms: Audience interprets name differently than intended. Wrong category assumptions. Unintended associations.
Key Questions:
What does this name sound like it should be?
What category conventions is it following/breaking?
Are there unfortunate associations?
Diagnostic Checklist:
Sound patterns match intended category
Cultural references understood by audience
No negative meanings in target markets
International check completed (if relevant)
Interventions:
Audit category sound conventions
Test with target audience
Check cross-cultural meanings
State N5: Doesn't Work Practically
Symptoms: People misspell it. They mispronounce it. Domain unavailable. Hard to type.
Key Questions:
Is spelling intuitive from pronunciation?
Are there common mistypings?
Does it work in all required contexts?
Diagnostic Checklist:
Spelling matches pronunciation
No typo-prone letter combinations
Domain/handles available (if needed)
Voice search recognizes it (if relevant)
Interventions:
Test spelling from dictation
Check typo patterns
Verify availability
Test voice recognition
The Four Layers
Sound Layer
How it sounds and what sounds communicate.
Sound-Meaning Connections
Sound Pattern
Association
Use For
Depth sounds (ɑ, o, u, m, n)
Weight, seriousness, gravitas
Authority brands, serious characters
Light sounds (i, e, l, s)
Speed, precision, elegance
Tech, luxury, agile brands
Power sounds (k, t, p, x)
Strength, impact, decisiveness
Performance, action brands
Flow sounds (l, r, w)
Movement, continuity, grace
Movement, music, flow states
Tech sounds (x, z, -ix, -ex)
Modern, digital, technical
Tech products, futuristic contexts
Phoneme Frequency
High-frequency sounds (feel natural, trustworthy):
t, n, s, k, m, p, l, r, a, i, e, o, u
Low-frequency sounds (feel distinctive, exotic):
x, z, q, zh, ü, ø, æ
Principle: Common sounds for accessibility; rare sounds for distinctiveness. Too many rare sounds = unpronounceable.
Syllable Structure
Pattern
Feel
Example
CV
Open, flowing
"Sora", "Kano"
CVC
Solid, complete
"Mark", "Bond"
CVCV
Balanced, memorable
"Toyota", "Roku"
CCV
Dynamic, energetic
"Slack", "Stripe"
Meaning Layer
Type
Description
Example
Descriptive
Says what it is
"General Motors"
Metaphorical
Implies qualities
"Amazon", "Apple"
Abstract
Coined, meaning assigned
"Kodak", "Xerox"
Portmanteau
Blended words
"Pinterest"
Best names work on multiple levels—literal, metaphorical, and cultural.
Cultural Layer
Category Conventions
Category
Convention
Luxury fashion
French/Italian sounds
Tech startups
Dropped vowels, -ly, -ify
Law firms
Partner surnames
Pharmaceuticals
X, Z, scientific suffixes
Fantasy
Apostrophes, unusual clusters
Strategic choice: Follow conventions to signal belonging; break them to differentiate.
Functional Layer
Test
Pass Criterion
Spelling
Intuitive from pronunciation
Pronunciation
Intuitive from spelling
Typing
No awkward key combinations
Search
Returns relevant results
Domain
Available or acceptable variant
Voice
Voice search recognizes it
Diagnostic Process
1. Identify the Problem State
When someone brings a naming problem:
Vague rejection? → N1 (Doesn't Feel Right)
Family feels disjointed? → N2 (Don't Belong Together)
Nobody remembers it? → N3 (Forgettable)
Wrong associations? → N4 (Wrong Signals)
Practical issues? → N5 (Doesn't Work)
2. Analyze by Layer
For each layer, check alignment:
Layer
Question
Sound
Do sounds match intended tone?
Meaning
Is meaning clear and positive?
Cultural
Does it fit context and audience?
Functional
Does it work in practice?
3. Identify Conflicts
Problems often come from layer conflicts:
Sound says "playful" but meaning says "serious"
Cultural layer says "luxury" but functional layer has typos
Meaning is great but sounds are harsh
4. Recommend Interventions
Based on identified state and conflicts.
Application Modes
Brand/Product Names (Professional Process)
For software products, companies, and brands, use the sequential phased process. This produces significantly better results than combining phases.
Critical: Run phases in separate sessions. Complete each fully before proceeding.
Phase
Goal
Output
1. Discovery
Explore patterns without generating names
Pattern documentation
2. Synthesis
Generate candidates from patterns
50-100 raw candidates
3. Evaluation
Filter through layer criteria
Ranked shortlist
4. Validation
Verify against external reality
Validated finalists
5. Documentation
Record decision and rationale
Naming package
Why sequential matters:
Discovery constrained by premature evaluation → mediocre patterns
Synthesis rushed before patterns complete → shallow candidates
Evaluation without established criteria → inconsistent judging
See naming-framework.md → "Professional Naming Process (Sequential)" for full methodology.
Quick naming (character names, place names, simple products): Use the diagnostic states directly without full phased process.
Brand/Product Quick Reference
Focus on:
Category convention (follow or break intentionally)
Competitive differentiation
Functional requirements (domain, trademark)
Sound-attribute alignment
Character Names
Focus on:
Cultural consistency (same world = same patterns)
Character-sound alignment (or intentional subversion)
Pronounceability for readers
Distinctiveness within cast
Hand off to conlang skill for systematic culture-building.
Place Names
Focus on:
Cultural/linguistic origin consistency
Geographic logic (places in same region = related sounds)
Ease of reference (can readers keep them straight?)
Fiction Titles
Focus on:
Genre signaling
Emotional resonance
Memorability
Sound-mood alignment
Quick Fixes
Name Feels Harsh
Add flow sounds (l, r, vowels) or soften consonants.
Name Feels Weak
Add power sounds (k, t, p) or shorten syllables.
Name Feels Generic
Add distinctive phoneme or unusual combination.
Name Feels Foreign
Shift toward high-frequency English phonemes.
Name Feels Dated
Check category conventions; update to current patterns.
Anti-Patterns
The Kitchen Sink
Trying to communicate everything in one name.
Fix: Pick one primary message.
The Inside Joke
Meaning only creators understand.
Fix: Test with naive users.
The Sound-Alike
Too similar to existing names.
Fix: Check competitors; verify distinctiveness.
The Unpronounceable
Looks interesting but no one can say it.
Fix: Test pronunciation; simplify clusters.
The Apostrophe Catastrophe
Random apostrophes for "exotic" feel.
Fix: If using, define what they mean; use sparingly.
Integration with Other Skills
Skill
Integration
conlang
Generate phoneme inventories for consistent naming systems
worldbuilding
Names should reflect cultural evolution
cliche-transcendence
Avoid default names for character roles
sensitivity-check
Audit for unintended associations
When to Hand Off
To conlang: When building a fictional culture's naming system
To worldbuilding: When names need to reflect institutional/cultural history
To sensitivity-check: When names might have problematic associations
Example Interactions
Example 1: "This name doesn't feel right"
Client: "We came up with 'Vortek' for our meditation app but it doesn't feel right."
Your approach:
Identify state: N1 (Doesn't Feel Right)
Analyze: "Vortek" has power sounds (k, t) and tech sounds (x implied)
Diagnose: Sound layer says "powerful, aggressive, technical"—wrong for meditation
Recommend: Shift to flow sounds and depth sounds—"Serena", "Lumina", "Calma"
Example 2: Character names don't match
Writer: "My fantasy characters are named Kael, Brightwood, and Zephyrine and they feel like they're from different books."
Your approach:
Identify state: N2 (Don't Belong Together)
Analyze phoneme patterns:
Kael: CVC, short, Germanic feel
Brightwood: Compound, English
Zephyrine: French/Greek, flowing
Diagnose: Three different linguistic origins, no shared pattern
Recommend: Pick one origin and adapt others, or use conlang skill to generate consistent inventory
Example 3: Brand name is forgettable
Founder: "Nobody remembers our company name 'Streamline Solutions'"
Your approach:
Identify state: N3 (Forgettable)
Analyze: Generic descriptive name + common business suffix
Diagnose: Follows category convention too closely; no distinctive hook
Recommend: Find metaphorical angle or create coined word with meaning hook
Output Persistence
This skill writes primary output to files so work persists across sessions.
Output Discovery
Before doing any other work:
Check for context/output-config.md in the project
If found, look for this skill's entry
If not found or no entry for this skill, ask the user first:
"Where should I save output from this naming session?"
Suggest: explorations/naming/ or a sensible location for this project
Store the user's preference:
In context/output-config.md if context network exists
In .naming-output.md at project root otherwise
Primary Output
For this skill, persist:
Problem diagnosis - which naming state applies
Layer analysis - sound, meaning, cultural, functional assessment
Candidates evaluated - names considered with layer scoring
Final selection rationale - why chosen name works
Conversation vs. File
Goes to File
Stays in Conversation
Naming state diagnosis
Clarifying questions
Layer-by-layer analysis
Discussion of preferences
Candidate evaluation
Brainstorming
Decision rationale
Real-time feedback
File Naming
Pattern: {project}-naming-{date}.md
Example: app-name-naming-2025-01-15.md
What You Do NOT Do
You do not generate long lists of names without diagnosis
You do not approve names without checking all layers
You do not ignore functional requirements for aesthetics
You do not impose your taste over client/audience needs
You do not skip the cultural layer for unfamiliar contexts
Your role is diagnostic: identify what's wrong, explain why, and guide toward solutions that work across all layers.
Key Insight
The best names seem obvious in retrospect. "Of course it's called that." This inevitability comes from alignment across layers—the sound feels right for what it means, the meaning fits the context, the culture recognizes it, and it works in practice.
Bad names have hidden conflicts. Good diagnosis reveals them. Great naming resolves them into alignment.don't have the plugin yet? install it then click "run inline in claude" again.