“Kunta Kinte ... the only thing greater than life itself,” says an African man holding his newborn baby, with his arms stretched toward the stars. The African man, a character in the television mini-series “Roots,” was conducting a valued tribal ritual — the naming of his son.

The giving of a name, from a baby name to a business name, remains an important universal tradition, and choosing a salon name is something that most new salon owners take seriously. They go the extra mile to find something original, catchy, and easy to remember. The more creative the name, the better the chances of attracting clients. The well-worn “Nails by [your name here]” just doesn’t cut it anymore.  If you’re trying to think of a name for your salon that will stand out above the rest, or if you want to rename your salon, read  these  salon owners’ stories of how they came up with the name of their business.

My Father’s Footsteps, Emmits-burg, Md., Kerry Shorb, owner. My father was a barber and beautician in this town. He developed cancer and passed away while I was in barber school. I later opened a small salon and named it My Father’s Footsteps. The name has worked out: very well because people who knew my dad have been very supportive of me. I have people coming in who remember my dad doing their hair. I have pictures hanging in the salon of my dad when he was standing behind the barber’s chair at age 15 and when he graduated from cosmetology school. The pictures make clients curious about how far back in the family the salon goes.

Hands for Hire Nail Salon, Long Island, N.Y., Debi Totten Grimaldi, owner. In the first five years of my business, I used the name Fancy Fingers by Debbie. But then I noticed that everybody was using if. So I decided to find something different. I talked to a lot of my clients, including one woman who told me. “Your hands are for hire.” I thought that was a really neat term and used it for my business name. It means that people hire me for the talent that’s in my hands.

Avante Nail Studio, Barrington, Ill., Maggie Boyd, owner. I decided on Avante because it sounded European. If you want an American to buy something, you make it European because women are more intrigued by European names. Once I picked the name a man who was visiting from Italy saw my business card and said the name is Italian for “working toward your goal.” One of my clients also said the name was an acronym meaning “Advanced, Versatile, Artistic, Nail Technology Expedience.”

Reyarpsdrol, Shaker Heights, Ohio, Thelma Adams, salon manager. When the owner was looking for a salon name, she flipped through the Bible and the first thing she came to was what she named the salon. She turned to the Lord’s Prayer and reversed the letters. It reflects the fact that the owner is a spiritually minded woman who tries to live according to the Bible.

Get Nailed, Bothell, Wash., Nancy Mueller, owner. I wanted a name that could be memorized instantly. I was driving in my car one day when I thought of the name. A lot of people who are curious about the name call the salon and ask what we do here. Some people call the salon because they can’t remember the name of the salon they originally wanted; but they somehow remember Get Nailed. Clients walk into the salon expecting to have fun because the salon name sounds like fun.

Wicked Wich, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Debbie Doerrlamm, owner. I used to talk on the CB years ago and acquired the name Wicked Wich. My license plates say Wicked Wich any my kids call the car I drive The Wich Mobile. My husband jokingly tell me I cast a spell over him. The salon has gotten a lot of attention from high school and college kids any their families, many of whom are my clients.

D-Zine Hair & Art Studio in St. Louis, Mo., Denise Edgar, owner. The salon was originally owned by two people, one of whom was an artist. The artist was friends with a street musician named Marlan. One day Marian skateboarded by the salon while the two owners were arguing about what to name the salon. Marlan gave them some suggestions, including D-Zine Hair & Art Studio, any skateboarded away. The owners talked it over and the name was painted on the window the next day! I purchased the salon five years ago and kept the name.