Too many new companies and products have names that look like the results of a drunken Scrabble game (Xobni, Svbtle, Doostang). In this entertaining and engaging book, ace-naming consultant Alexandra Watkins explains how anyone--even noncreative types--can create memorable and effective brand names. No degree in linguistics required.

The heart of the book is Watkins's proven SMILE and SCRATCH Test. A great name makes you SMILE because it is Suggestive--evokes something about your brand; is Memorable--makes an association with the familiar; uses Imagery--aids memory through evocative visuals; has Legs--lends itself to a theme for extended mileage; and is Emotional--moves people.

A bad name, on the other hand, makes you SCRATCH your head because it is Spelling challenged--looks like a typo; is a Copycat--similar to competitors' names; is Restrictive--limits future growth; is Annoying--seems forced and frustrates customers; is Tame--feels flat, merely descriptive, and uninspired; suffers from the Curse of Knowledge--speaks only to insiders; and is Hard to pronounce--confuses and distances customers.

This 50 percent-new second edition has double the number of brainstorming tools and techniques, even more secrets and strategies to nab an available domain name, a brand-new chapter on how companies are using creative names around the office to add personality to everything from cafeterias to conference rooms, and much more.