The naming motherlode
Moms have given us a lot. Some picked us up from school when we were faking a stomach ache. Some wrote us birthday cards “from” our pet, relinquishing all thanks to an oblivious furry family member. Some took us to see the Spice Girls and conceded that “yes, maybe that is them in the limo behind us…arriving five minutes before the show…”. Moms were also, at least partially, responsible for giving us our names.
In honor of Mother’s Day this weekend, it’s time to look at some names that celebrate some moms and some baaad mothers.
Mother Design
As an independent branding & design studio, Mother Design builds brands for a living, so it’s no surprise that they have some incredibly thoughtful support for their own name. Their site features a scrolling list of endings to the sentence “Mother Design ____” such as, “gets all up in your business”, or “nurtures”, or “loves to dance”. They position themselves as a guiding light and a strong support system that, ultimately, gives you the tools to launch a successful brand.
It’s a powerful metaphor that’s best captured on their Family page where, rather than pictures of edgy young designers, you see grainy photos of the (edgy young) mothers who raised them. You can almost smell the hairspray, and it’s glorious.
Big Mama Thornton
Legendary blues musician Willie Mae Thornton, better known as Big Mama Thornton, didn’t see the point of doing anything small. She lived up to her stage name in every way. At six feet tall and over 200 pounds, her stature was the embodiment of her musical impact. Best known for her recording of “Hound Dog” (later made famous by a certain hip-swiveler whose image was more palatable for white audiences at the time), her voice was a reminder that female strength and vulnerability weren’t mutually exclusive.
Mama’s
It’s been said that San Franciscans love lines. Perhaps one of the most reliably long yet worthwhile lines is at Mama’s on Washington Square — a popular brunch destination in the North Beach neighborhood. Since the ’60s, people have lined up outside of Mama’s, hoping to satisfy the appetite they’ve worked up from zig-zagging over hills. In 1971, a food critic wrote: “the reason for Mama’s appeal is Mama herself.” Quite literally a mom & pop operation, Mama’s was started by the Sanchezes who put their hearts into their restaurant (and its logo).
There’s an undeniable appeal for food that’s made “how mama used to make it”, and plenty of restaurants and brands make you feel like you’re part of the family with names like this one.
Moms Mabley
For fans of standup comedy, getting lost down the YouTube rabbit hole of Moms Mabley’s standup is time well spent. A fixture of the Chittlin Circuit in the 1950s and ’60s, she was given the moniker “Moms” because she was considered a “mom” to her fellow comedians on the road. Born as Loretta Aiken, her full stage name was Jackie Mabley — a name taken from an early boyfriend who she said “took a lot off me, so the least I could do was take his name.” That’s called making lemonade. Women like Moms Mabley and Big Mama Thornton turned the racist “mammy” stereotype on its head and broke barriers for a new generation of black female entertainers.
Momper
In the world of maternity brands, there’s no shortage of “mom” puns. The Momper Romper is exactly what it sounds like: a loose-fitting romper that’s all-purpose, comfortable, and affordable. It’s even appealing to women who aren’t expecting, although those women might be deterred by the name — or, they might not be able to deny this cotton wonderland.
Mothers of Invention
Just months after the Beatles did the equivalent of breaking the internet on the Ed Sullivan Show, experimental composer Frank Zappa joined a band called the Soul Giants. Thanks to Zappa’s heavy influence (and probably while under the influence), on Mother’s Day 1964, they changed their name to “the Mothers”. Record execs insisted on a rename because “Mother” was slang for “motherf****r” — but also happened to connote a very skilled instrumentalist in the jazz world. The label suggested “The Mothers Auxiliary”, which Zappa reworked as “The Mothers of Invention”. And the rest is a bizarre, inventive history.
MOTHER
To many, the combination of mom + jeans isn’t exactly a flattering one (thanks in part to SNL). This LA-based denim brand doesn’t seem too concerned about that. Their branding counteracts the name in exactly the right way, making it clear that there’s nothing maternal about these jeans. According to their site, “The name MOTHER plays off the idea of duality — it can be nurturing or a cuss…The brand’s attitude and collections always present a juxtaposition of hard and soft.” Ah, we get it now. For offbeat names like this one, it never hurts to draw back the curtain a bit.
Mother’s Retreat
This is wine — for mothers, by mothers. The name says it all. If only it came with a one way ticket…?!
Mothers
Mothers makes car care products like polishes, waxes, and cleaners. In their commercial, a deep-voiced man waxes poetic on waxes and aerosols. This brand’s focus is utility — its chunky block letters and red and black design make it feel right at home on an AutoZone shelf. While there’s not much explanation around the name, it may be safe to assume that it’s another play on the slang version of “mothers” — although they do claim to offer “quality-crafted formulas with a touch of traditional, old-school charm.” As long as it’s not a mothers = cleaning supplies situation, it’s a name that definitely does a good job of standing out from the rest.
Mother Jones
It’s always rewarding when digging into the meaning of a name leads to a quick history lesson. The progressive online magazine Mother Jones, or MoJo for short, is named after Mary Harris Jones, an Irish-American schoolteacher and dressmaker turned activist. At the turn of the 19th century, she helped coordinate major strikes and co-founded the Industrial Workers of the World — so it’s no surprise that a media outlet championing human rights has aligned with her legacy. One can only hope that she also went by “MoJo”.
Face it, the people at Mother Design win at Mother’s Day — and if they have siblings, they’re probably their mothers’ favorite children. But the rest of us can still raise a glass and celebrate all the moms, mothers, and mamas who named us.
