"Top 10" New Names for the Washington Redskins

Beverly Hills, CA, July 03, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The name change drumbeat for the Washington Redskins grows ever louder. With the June 18th decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) along with a growing chorus of Congressional members pressing for a name change, the end seems near for the Redskins moniker.

“Now it is only a matter of time before Redskins owner Daniel Snyder gives in to the mounting pressure,” said John William Geranios Ph.D., the Executive Director of Brandings.com, a global strategic name and brand development firm. “The tide has turned. The team’s controversial name has passed the tipping point with opinion leaders and the public.”

“We have a set of solutions for the Washington, DC football organization,” Geranios said. "The Brandings.com onomastics and naming architecture team put together a 'Top 10 List' of new names for the Redskins.”

Geranios said, “It was a major objective to create names that would serve as the foundation for a world-class football sports brand.”

“There is a great deal of brand equity in the Redskins name, but the value has diminished with the TTAB decision to cancel the Redskins trademark,” Geranios said. “The team determined that the word ‘red’ to be an iconic element in the current name. By keeping ‘red’ in the new name, much of the economic and market value is retained.”

“It was also a goal to ensure continuity and preserve the positive history of the franchise. To this end, it was decided to retain the traditional team colors of burgundy, gold, and white in design elements,” Geranios added.

Here’s are the Brandings.com “Top 10” list of new names for the Redskins.

#10 RedVolts. A super-charged, energetic and electrifying name choice. Original sounding name with major brand development potential. Downside: Without the "D" it's "Revolts."

#9 RedSonics. Vibrant name that brings to mind energy, excitement and sound. Marketing will be required to distinguish the brand from the burger chain.

#8 RedCrests. A catchy and powerful name that conjures up the feeling of elevated attainment and seasoned pedagogy.

#7 RedScions. This name evokes a sense of history and lineage. When pronounced, the name sounds similar to “Redskins” – but with a slightly less engaging rhythm.

#6 Redds. Short and concise name that packs a powerful punch. With the extra “D” added to the name, confusion with the Cincinnati Reds is somewhat mitigated.

#5. RedFins. Modern sounding name with good symmetry and a powerful aggressive edge. In developing the brand, a clear identity would be needed to differentiate the brand from the RedFin real estate enterprise.

#4 Americans. This is the sole “non-red” name on the recommendation list. A great fit for a team located in the nation’s capital. Bonus: A welcome positive Native American evocation.

#3 RedHawks. The name is currently in use by the Oklahoma minor league baseball team. This was the name choice selected by Miami University in Ohio when they abandoned their Redskins moniker.

#2 RedTails. Clear and clean name with a solid cadence. Bonus: A nice nod to the Tuskegee Airmen.

#1 RedIrons. Strong, distinctive name with a cool and catchy edge. The name has transcendent qualities that are perfect for a global football brand.

“There is also the issue of availability and legal use of each of these name choices,” Geranios noted. “Identifying a great name is one thing, being able to obtain and legally use it, is quite another.”

Brandings.com is a company naming and strategic planning organization helping small and mid-sized businesses start, grow and thrive. Brandings helps maintains the largest global inventory of company names, domain names with ready-to-use logo designs.

John William Geranios, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Brandings.com. He received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, MBA from Georgetown University and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. He has served on the faculty in the Strategic Management & Public Policy Department at The George Washington University School of Business, chaired the Department of Business at Mount St. Mary's College and has taught at Pepperdine University and California State University, Los Angeles.

For more information, or to schedule an interview with John William Geranios, Ph.D., contact Matthew Honigman at 1-310-246-5100 or honigman@brandings.com.