How does IKEA come up with names for its products? (ikea.com)

Article summary

IKEA uses a systematic approach to naming its products, with a preference for Swedish names that are easy to pronounce and contain the letters Å, Ä, or Ö. The company aims to create consistent and recognizable brand names across different languages and cultures. IKEA's product names are designed to be simple, memorable, and easy to spell. The company uses a set of rules to ensure that its product names are not trademarked or used as surnames.

Main themes

• IKEA naming strategy
• Swedish language and culture
• brand identity
• language-dependent sorting
• international marketing
• cultural differences

What commenters say

• The clarity and simplicity of IKEA's naming strategy are noteworthy and refreshing.
• The use of Swedish letters like Å, Ä, and Ö in IKEA's product names is a deliberate choice to create a unique brand identity.
• The naming strategy may not be as straightforward as it seems, and some commenters question the practicality of checking every name against every language.
• The discussion highlights the challenges of creating brand names that are consistent and recognizable across different languages and cultures.
• Some commenters appreciate the uniqueness of Swedish letters and their contribution to the IKEA brand's international image.
• Others argue that the use of diacritics like Å, Ä, and Ö makes the names seem exotic or unusual to non-Swedish speakers.
• The commenters also touch on the topic of language-dependent sorting and collation, highlighting the complexities of working with different alphabets and scripts.