Naming 6-Gates Protocol

Overview

Brand naming in 2026 is architectural engineering, not creative brainstorming. A name must be:

1. Machine-compatible - tokenized efficiently by LLMs, citeable by AI engines
2. Legally defensible - clear of trademark conflicts across jurisdictions
3. Voice-ready - pronounceable by assistants, invocable without friction
4. Narratively loaded - capable of carrying a brand story

Core principle: Optimize for AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) first, aesthetics second.

When to Use

• Creating a new brand, product, or company name
• Replacing a name due to trademark conflict
• Expanding internationally (multilingual requirements)
• Launching a voice-activated product or skill
• Naming for AI-first discovery (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini recommendations)

When NOT to Use

• Internal project codenames (no legal/AEO requirements)
• Temporary campaign names
• Personal projects with no commercial intent

The 6-Gate Naming Process

digraph naming_process {
    rankdir=TB;
    node [shape=box];

    brief [label="1. BRIEF\nDefine constraints"];
    generate [label="2. GENERATE\nAI-assisted creation"];
    filter [label="3. LINGUISTIC FILTER\nMultilingual stress test"];
    legal [label="4. LEGAL FILTER\nTrademark screening"];
    aeo [label="5. AEO FILTER\nEntity strength test"];
    story [label="6. STORY FILTER\nNarrative potential"];

    brief -> generate -> filter -> legal -> aeo -> story;

    filter -> generate [label="fails" style=dashed];
    legal -> generate [label="conflicts" style=dashed];
    aeo -> generate [label="weak entity" style=dashed];
    story -> generate [label="no narrative" style=dashed];
}

---

Gate 1: BRIEF (Constraints Definition)

Define hard constraints BEFORE generating:

Constraint	Target	Why
Length	7-8 letters max	Mobile icons, cognitive load, tokenization
Syllables	1-3 syllables	Voice invocation, memorability
Character set	A-Z only	Domain availability, global keyboards
Forbidden sequences	ght, ough, silent letters	Pronunciation barriers

Output format:

brief:
  max_letters: 8
  max_syllables: 3
  target_markets: [FR, ES, US, UK]
  nice_classes: [9, 35, 42]
  avoid_phonemes: [ʒ, θ, ð]  # Hard for non-native speakers
  competitor_names: [Notion, Figma, Linear]  # Style reference
  forbidden_associations: [medical, financial, religious]

---

Gate 2: GENERATE (AI-Assisted Creation)

Use structured prompting with 5 typologies:

Typology 1: Analogical (Real-Word Transfer)

Words from unrelated domains applied to new context.

• Examples: Apple (tech), Amazon (retail), Jaguar (auto)
• Prompt: "Find words from [nature/mythology/geography] that evoke [core attribute]"

Typology 2: Metaphorical (Abstract Concept)

Abstract concepts made concrete.

• Examples: Slack (workspace tension release), Notion (idea capture)
• Prompt: "What single word captures the transformation from [pain] to [outcome]?"

Typology 3: Neologism (Invented Word)

New words with phonetic engineering.

• Examples: Kodak, Xerox, Häagen-Dazs
• Prompt: "Create a 2-syllable word with [plosive start] + [open vowel] + [soft ending]"

Typology 4: Portmanteau (Fusion)

Blend of two meaningful words.

• Examples: Instagram (instant + telegram), Pinterest (pin + interest)
• Prompt: "Blend [word1] + [word2] keeping recognition of both roots"

Typology 5: Empty Vessel

Meaningless but phonetically pleasing.

• Examples: Rolex, Vimeo, Skype
• Prompt: "Generate 5-letter combinations: CVCVC pattern, no existing meaning"

Generation Contract:

CONSTRAINTS:
- Max 8 letters
- Pronounceable in French, Spanish, English
- No existing trademark in Class 42
- Distinct from: [competitor list]

OUTPUT FORMAT per candidate:
- Name: [word]
- Typology: [1-5]
- Phonetic: /IPA transcription/
- Syllables: [count]
- Rationale: [1 sentence]

---

Gate 3: LINGUISTIC FILTER (Multilingual Stress Test)

Test each candidate across target markets:

Pronunciation Test

Run through TTS engines in 15+ languages:

• Google TTS, Amazon Polly, Azure Speech
• Listen for: mispronunciation, confusion, awkwardness

Cultural Connotation Check

Verify no negative meanings in:

• Target market slang (TikTok, Douyin, RedNote trends)
• Historical associations
• Religious/political sensitivities
• Homophones in local languages

Phonetic Hazards to Avoid

Hazard	Example	Impact
Silent letters	"Knight"	Voice assistant failure
Consonant clusters	"Strengths"	Non-native difficulty
Ambiguous vowels	"Read" (reed/red)	Confusion
Cross-language homophones	"Gift" (poison in German)	Negative association

Kill criterion: If TTS mispronounces in >2 target markets, reject.

---

Gate 4: LEGAL FILTER (Trademark Screening)

Phase 1: Quick Disqualification

• Google: "[name] company" / "[name] brand" / "[name] trademark"
• Domain check: .com, .co, .io, .fr, .eu
• Social handles: Namechk scan all platforms

Phase 2: Formal Trademark Search

Registry	Tool	Check For
France	INPI data.inpi.fr	Exact + phonetic similarity
EU	EUIPO eSearch / TMview	Same Nice classes
US	USPTO TESS	Registered + pending
International	WIPO Global Brand Database	Madrid Protocol

Phase 3: AI-Assisted Similarity Detection

EUIPO "Early TM Screening" detects:

• Phonetic similarity (sounds-like)
• Visual similarity (looks-like)
• Conceptual similarity (means-like)

Kill criterion: Any conflict in target Nice classes → reject.

---

Gate 5: AEO FILTER (Entity Strength Test)

A name must be recognizable as a distinct entity by AI systems.

Entity Strength Checklist

• Unique token: Does the name tokenize as a single unit or get split?
• No collision: Search "[name]" - does it return your intended context or noise?
• Semantic boundaries: Can AI distinguish "[name] the company" from generic usage?

Testing AEO Strength

Prompt to test:
"What is [NAME]?"

GOOD response: "I don't have information about [NAME]" (clean slate)
BAD response: "[NAME] is a common word meaning..." (collision)
BAD response: "[NAME] could refer to several things..." (ambiguity)

Keyword Difficulty Check

Use Semrush/Ahrefs:

• Keyword difficulty < 30 = good
• Keyword difficulty > 60 = buried by generics

Kill criterion: If name collides with high-volume generic term, reject.

---

Gate 6: STORY FILTER (Narrative Potential)

A name must be "tell-able" - capable of carrying a brand story.

The 5 Narrative Pillars Test

For each candidate, verify you can build:

Pillar	Question	Example Answer Required
Origin story	"Why this name?"	Must have a genuine, shareable reason
Belief story	What does the brand stand for?	Values must connect to name
Product truth	What does it actually do?	Name should hint at function
Transformation	What changes for the customer?	Before/after must be nameable
Culture	What kind of community forms?	Name should enable identity

Empty Vessel vs. Loaded Name

• Empty vessel (Kodak, Google): Brand fills meaning over time
• Loaded name (Instagram, Airbnb): Meaning is built-in

Both work. But you must choose consciously and build accordingly.

Vocal Signature Test

Say the name aloud 10 times. Ask:

• Does it feel good in the mouth?
• Would customers enjoy saying it?
• Does it have a "sticky" quality?

Kill criterion: If you can't tell a compelling origin story, reject.

---

Voice Assistant Constraints (2026)

Assistant	Invocation Rules	Rejection Risks
Alexa	2+ words required (unless trademarked)	Single generic words
Siri	Must be phonetically distinct	Confusion with system commands
Google	Strong Knowledge Graph presence needed	Names too similar to famous brands
Bixby	Avoid wake-word conflicts	"Open", "cancel", common verbs

Test procedure:

1. Say "[Name], do [action]" to each assistant
2. Note recognition rate
3. Reject if < 80% accurate invocation

---

Output: Naming Dossier

For the final candidate, produce:

## [NAME] - Naming Dossier

### Basic Info
- **Name:** [word]
- **Typology:** [1-5]
- **Phonetic:** /IPA/
- **Length:** X letters, Y syllables

### Linguistic Clearance
- FR pronunciation: [pass/fail + notes]
- ES pronunciation: [pass/fail + notes]
- EN pronunciation: [pass/fail + notes]
- Cultural flags: [none / list]

### Legal Clearance
- INPI (FR): [clear / conflict]
- EUIPO (EU): [clear / conflict]
- USPTO (US): [clear / conflict]
- Domains available: [list]
- Social handles: [list]

### AEO Score
- Entity uniqueness: [1-10]
- Keyword difficulty: [score]
- Tokenization: [single/split]

### Narrative Potential
- Origin story hook: [1 sentence]
- Brand values connection: [1 sentence]
- Community identity: [suggested demonym]

### Voice Readiness
- Alexa: [pass/fail]
- Siri: [pass/fail]
- Google: [pass/fail]

### Recommendation
[APPROVED / NEEDS WORK / REJECTED]
[Final reasoning]

---

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Fails	Fix
Starting with brainstorming	Generates unusable names	Start with constraints (Gate 1)
Skipping TTS test	Voice assistant failures	Always test pronunciation
Ignoring Nice class overlap	Trademark conflicts	Check specific classes, not just exact matches
Choosing descriptive names	Weak AEO, hard to trademark	Prefer distinctive/invented
No narrative test	Brand can't tell its story	Always verify storytelling potential

---

Quick Reference

The 7-8 Letter Rule: Shorter = better for mobile, voice, memory, tokenization.

Phonetic Gold Standard: CVCV pattern (consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel) works globally.

AEO Priority: If AI can't cite you as a distinct entity, you don't exist in 2026.

Empty Vessel Strategy: Meaningless names (Kodak) require more brand-building but face fewer conflicts.

Voice-First: If Alexa can't invoke it, 8.4 billion assistants can't recommend it.

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What Claude Does vs What You Decide

Claude handles	You provide
Generating candidates by typology	Brief constraints (markets, classes)
Running linguistic stress tests	Final pronunciation judgment
Checking trademark databases	Legal professional validation
Evaluating AEO/entity strength	Strategic brand direction
Producing naming dossier	Final selection and approval

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Skill Boundaries

This skill excels for:

• Brand, product, or company naming
• Names requiring international deployment
• Voice-assistant compatible names
• AI-discoverable entity creation

This skill is NOT ideal for:

• Internal codenames → No legal/AEO requirements
• Temporary campaign names → Overhead unnecessary
• Personal projects → Simplified process sufficient

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Skill Metadata

name: naming-6-gates
category: branding
version: 2.0
author: GUIA
source_expert: 6-Gate Protocol (AEO-first naming)
difficulty: advanced
mode: centaur
tags: [naming, branding, trademark, voice-assistant, aeo, entity]
created: 2026-02-03
updated: 2026-02-03