Nomenclature Archives

September 25, 2023 By Ali Sell

Hurricane naming through the ages: a turbulent & storied history

Arlene, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Idalia, Nigel.

These are some of the named storms — tropical storms and hurricanes — so far in the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which occurs June 1st to November 30th every year.

This year, in particular, the names caught my eye. Maybe it’s because we’re seeing more than usual in the news due to the “above-normal level of activity,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Or maybe it’s because I’m fortunate to live in a (so far) hurricane-free part of the country and have the luxury to ponder these things.

Or just maybe it’s because I’m a namer, so names make me curious…especially ones like Gert. (Great brand name up for grabs?) So, I did some digging into the history of hurricane nomenclature, or the system of naming in this field. What I found was a dark and stormy tale, including Greek mythology, colonialism, sexism, and political revenge.

May 4, 2023 By Zinzin

Brand naming advice: Be difruhnt, but not that different

If your name is different for the sake of being different, then it’s likely doomed. The most powerful names are those that best support the brand positioning, no matter what. Depending on the circumstances, a name might be “extreme” or it might not. If your name is trying too hard to be different just in order to stand out, it won’t. It will blend in with all the other names that are also trying too hard, and failing, to stand out.

In good company

That is a long-held tenet in Zinzin’s naming manifesto. That’s why we were thrilled to see Lana Tlemat’s March 2023 article in Fast Company. It’s called “What do Lyft and Krispy Kreme have in common? This– and consumers hate it. Here’s a hint: Tumblr is another one.”

October 28, 2022 By Ali Sell

Nicknames of the Houston Astros & Philadelphia Phillies — 2022 World Series fun

The World Series is here! This namer is a big fan of Major League Baseball (MLB), and Zinzin always loves to explore worlds outside of its own to find naming inspiration. So, let’s look at the rich naming traditions in the world of baseball, where the use of nicknames, in particular, is as fun and fascinating as the sport itself. More specifically, let’s look at the team naming history and current (active roster) player nicknames of the two teams in the 2022 World Series: the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies.

June 13, 2022 By Ali Sell

NBA Finals fun: Nicknames of the Golden State Warriors & Boston Celtics

Call us crazy (or just plain Zinzin), but naming is in our DNA, even when we’re watching the NBA. In honor of our local team, the Golden State Warriors, and their awesome run to this year’s NBA Finals — their sixth finals appearance in the last eight seasons — we take a brief look at Warriors naming history and current player nicknames. We also included a nicknaming-nod to the Warriors 2022 Finals rival, the Boston Celtics…because we may be “Zinzin,” but we love a good (naming) showdown.

January 13, 2017 By Martin McMurray

Industry Jargon: Development Mule

A 2018 Ford Mustang test mule, replete with razzle-dazzle camouflage, and Velcroed front grill and rear end disguise. Photo: AutoMotorBlog / Spy Photographs.

I recently came across the term “development mule” in an article at Jalopnik, and several Ford Mustang “mules” were featured in director David Gelb’s A Faster Horse, which documents the design, production, and development of the 2015 Mustang. I was fascinated with the term, so I did a little research. According to Wikipedia, a development mule, test mule, or (simply) mule in the automotive industry is,

a testbed vehicle equipped with prototype components requiring evaluation. They are often camouflaged to deceive competitors and thwart a curious automotive press.

So what is the difference between a “prototype” and a “development mule?”

May 19, 2014 By Martin McMurray

A Brief History of X (1895-2014)

NASA - X-Planes — A group of U.S. experimental aircraft (X-Planes). In the center, the Douglas X-3 Stiletto; around it, clockwise from bottom left: Bell X-1A, Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, Convair XF-92A, Bell X-5, Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket, Northrop X-4 Bantam.

Patient X

I first encountered the X modifier in my youth. As an aviation enthusiast I was introduced to the radical X-3 Stiletto. The Douglas Aircraft Company designed and manufactured the X-3 Stiletto experimental jet aircraft for the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The NACA was the precursor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

X-Plane it to me

The X-3 looks like a personification of the beaked-nose white spy from Mad magazine’s Spy vs. Spy, with its a slender fuselage, a long tapered nose, and ultra-modern white-on-white paint scheme. The United States military developed a series of experimental airplanes, helicopters and rockets — collectively referred to as “X-Planes” — that were used to test and evaluate new technologies and aerodynamic concepts:

October 25, 2012 By Martin McMurray

Nicknames and slang of the Detroit Tigers

I heard on the radio this morning an appropriate turn of phrase in lieu of Justin Verlander’s (“The Monarch”) performance in yesterday’s Game 1 of the World Series, and it goes something like this: The are two types of ball players. Humble ones and those preparing themselves to be humbled.

October 24, 2012 By Jay Jurisich

Nicknames and slang of the San Francisco Giants

In honor of our local team, the San Francisco Giants, and their amazing run to 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series victories, I’ve put together an extensive list of Giants team nicknames, player nicknames and slang, past and present.

Nomenclature

In good company

Patient X

X-Plane it to me

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