Product names are an entire field and as a student, at least in my experience, they are something most solo designers stumble on.
The best names evolve throughout a project based on factors which influence a final design, by best in this scenario I mean the most appealing as an advertiser.
But what if a name could do more than appeal to someone? In "the founder" it is established McDonald's success, in Ray Kroc's eyes, is purely down to its name. Something about the wholesome family name detracts from the militant preparation operation within the restaurants and makes you feel comfortable returning.
You can personify the McDonald's brand because it has a human name. But what if we take this approach to naming products based on their planned endurance?
The best example as per usual is from IKEA; the "Billy book case" is an icon and one of the mainstays of British households.
The inanimate object is given a child's personality which can work towards preserving its use even when aesthetic and (sometimes) functional appeal fades.
I've affectionately called my lamp which I'm designing at the moment the "Alexander light" after my little brother who suffers from migraines. He was the initial inspiration for the project. Here are the benefits I've found of giving a product a human name:
1. They treat it with more respect, reducing scrapes.
2. The endearing nature means faults become quirks in some instances.
3. People with a similar name are drawn to it as a conversation piece.
4. The geography of the design can be traced to the names heritage.
5. They sound good and it saves the eventual discovery of a euphemism linked to other possible names.