Naming a food truck isn’t that challenging, yet coming up with the perfect food truck name can be hard. If you’re worried about not standing out, you might be putting too much pressure on picking a name. At the same time, a business name is what customers, investors, and others use to identify a brand.
It can seem daunting to pick the right name, but if you overthink it, you’re likely to choose the wrong one. You can always change the branding and marketing for your food truck down the road. The most important things to remember when naming your business are outlined in detail for you below.
Read on to learn the dos and don’ts for coming up with names for your food truck. You’ll even find a few potential ideas to get you started on your next (and hopefully last) name brainstorming session.
How do you come up with a food truck name?
There are many things you can do when coming up with a name for your food truck. You can base things off of your planned food cart menu or many other possibilities. Check out these top things to consider when brainstorming names:
- What do you sell?
- Will people remember the name?
- Can people say the name?
- Is it available?
Your food or beverages are the most important part of your business. If you can’t name your truck after what you sell, you’re probably looking at it the wrong way. Make sure whatever names you consider are easy to say, memorable, and not used by another truck. If you’re struggling to think of what you’ll sell, look at the most popular food truck items below.
Most popular food truck foods
- Burgers
- Fries
- Falafel
- Indian
- Pizza
- Grilled cheese
- Mac ‘n’ cheese
General vs. specific
If you sell popular foods like those listed above, you’ll want a specific name. You don’t want your food truck name confused with any others that may have a similar menu. Instead, a specific name based on your special twist on the food (or your ownership) should help it stand out. A more generalized name is ideal if you sell a variety of goods. Your business might offer a specific dietary style or cuisine with multiple takes on popular dishes. If so, consider naming the truck after this aspect of your brand. Even more generic names that aren’t specific to a product can still resonate with customers.
Plan ahead
Another solid way to pick a good name for a food truck starts with a plan. The biggest tip, naming your truck after your food, starts with actually planning out your menu. Without a solid business plan for your food truck, it can be that much harder to pick the right name. You can research a solid name by comparing your menu to your competitors. If you don’t know what’s in your area ahead of time, you could accidentally settle on a name that’s too similar to the competition.
Short and sweet
Another big rule of thumb to follow: the rule of simplicity. Keep your list of potential names short and sweet. If you’ve got a long name, it’ll be more expensive to print on wraps and merchandise. Plus, it will be that much harder for customers to remember. A simple food truck name should be no more than four words.
Food truck names to avoid
You know what to do when picking names, but you also need to know what not to do. There are a few truck names that might seem like no-brainers, but if your partner or co-owner is a little too creative, consider avoiding these:
- Controversy or statements: Current events won’t always trend and can sit poorly with customers
- Geographic or regional: If you move your truck seasonally, avoid location-specific names (unless it’s about the cuisine)
- Overly generic: Names like Bob’s Burgers, Joe’s Fries, and similar, are too generic and are easy to forget
5 food truck names to get you started
If you’re looking for some names to help you get started, there’s a solid formula to follow. Here it is:
Your name + specific food + co.
If your first name is too long, formal, or generic, consider a nickname or last name. If you sell specialty food, place that at the center of your business name. And adding “co.” formalizes any kind of business name. Here are a few examples you can use for your food truck name:
- Lou’s Gumbo Box: personal, specific, and a little kitschy
- Marg’s To Go: to the point, funny, obvious, and memorable
- Get Up and GoGo Juice: for coffee, smoothies, energy drinks, and health juices
- Dexter’s Killer Eats: generic for multiple offerings with a fun pun
- Sammie’s: personal name, specific food item, fun name
Closing thoughts
Choosing a name for your food truck can be easy if you consider all the above tips. Just remember, it must be short, memorable, and have a connection to you or what you sell. And research names of trucks nearby or those that are your competition, to ensure your name is unique and not the same or similar to the competition.
