When creating a name for a new product, service, or company, rule number one is to make the new brand memorable.

The reason is obvious: if your customer can’t remember the name of your product, the chances are slim to none that they’ll search for it, let alone recommend it to someone else. Forgettable names are worth nothing. Memorable names are priceless.

The bad news is that most companies ignore this rule and end up with product names as memorable as yesterday’s lunch. The good news is that you don’t have to settle for a forgettable name. Creating memorable names is easier than you think.

All you have to do is take the following crash course in Nameonics: The Science of Memorable Brands.

Nameonics (yes, I’m a word geek, and yes, I made that name up to make this article more memorable) combines “name” with “mnemonics.” As you may remember from English class, mnemonics are linguistic devices that are like memory aids that make information easier to remember.

Here are six basic Nameonics you can use to make the brands you create more memorable:

Rhymer

Like catchy jingles, names that rhyme often stick in a person’s head whether they like it or not. The rhyme works for multipart names like Crunch ‘n Munch and shorter names like YouTube. Other examples of rhyme include Mellow Yellow, Lean Cuisine, and Reese’s Pieces.

Images

The human brain is programmed to respond to and store visual images. That’s why names that evoke a vivid image like BlackBerry, Jaguar or Hush Puppies are so easy to remember. So when you name your new product, be sure to think in images as well as words.

Alliteration

Alliteration is one of the most common mnemonic devices. To create alliteration, start each word of the name with the same letter or sound. Bed, Bath & Beyond is an alliteration. Other examples include Coca-Cola, Spic and Span, and Krispy Kreme.

neologisms

A neologism is a newly invented word like Google or Wii. Neologisms can be created by spelling an existing word. Google is a new spelling of the mathematical term “googol”. You can also make a neologism by combining two words. Snapple is a combination of “snap” and “apple”.

Onomatopoeia

Buzz, bang, and thump are all onomatopoeia: words that sound like what they stand for. Examples of branded onomatopoeia include Whoosh Mobile, Meow Mix, and KaBoom Energy Drink. Try adding some oomph to your names with onomatopoeia.

haplology

Do you need your new product to generate a Bunch-O-Business? So a haplology may just be the ticket. To create a haplology, simply take a three-word phrase and shorten the one in the middle. Examples include Toys “R” Us, Bug-B-Gone, and Land O’Lakes.

This is not rocket science

Nameonics is a science that does not require an advanced degree to practice. Anyone can use Nameonic rhymes, images, and other simple techniques to make their brand stand out from the competition and stick in the customer’s memory. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose except a boring and hard to remember name.