Church Names

Questions to Ask About Your Name

What are its strengths? Weaknesses?
What would the name mean to an outsider, or to an unchurched person?
How might a different name serve you better?
Is your name easy to remember?
Does it create a favorable impression?

A Church May Need a New Name if:

The current name is outdated or is perceived that way.
The current name limits your opportunities for growth in some way. Allegheny Airlines changed its name to USAir, because people thought of Allegheny as a regional carrier; business soared. Many new churches avoid using "Community," since they want to have a regional appeal rather than appear to focus only on the surrounding community. Now, churches are adopting simple, straightforward names like Summit Church.
Your name is misleading to outsiders. So many churches use "Community" in their name that many people think it's a denominational name.
Your name isn't unique or memorable.
Your name is too long. No matter how long the name, people tend to refer to a church with one or two words from the name (instead of "Harvest of Hope Community Church," they simply call it "Harvest"). Why not just shorten the whole thing? It'll work better on everything you print, from the church sign to business cards to newspaper ads to radio publicity.
Your name is too difficult to pronounce.
The original meaning has been lost.
Your name says nothing to outsiders. Many biblical names don't mean anything to the unchurched.
Your name carries some negative baggage. Word meanings change; the innocent name given to your church 80 years ago may have negative or misleading connotations today.

When Choosing a Church Name, Consider Names That:

Position you in the community or among the people to whom you want to minister.
Are memorable.
Are easy to pronounce.
Have positive associations.
Can be easily shortened to one or two words.
Don't confuse you with other churches.

Types of Church Names

Location Names. The location might be a street, residential area, township, town or city, valley, or geographical region. Examples: Park Street Church, Wabash Community Church, South Side, Coventry Hills. Some location names describe the setting--Lakeview and Countryside, for instance. Location names are among the most popular, and they work well, since they help tell people where to find you and where your ministry is focused.

People Names. The name might refer to--

A biblical figure (St. Mark's Lutheran Church).
A more contemporary leader (John Wesley Community Church, St. Vincent's).
A denominational founder (Otterbein United Brethren Church).
A person important to that local church's history (Baker Memorial Church).

Biblical Names. These can be divided into several categories:

Biblical places. Examples: Calvary, Gethsemane, Bethel, Bethany, Jerusalem, Antioch, Mt. Sinai.
Biblical concepts. Examples: First Love, Living Water, Trinity, Grace, Faith, Agape.
Biblical names. Examples: Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, Pentecost.

Religious Names. These names have inherently religious connotations, but don't necessarily come from the Bible. Examples: Sonrise, Open Bible, Maranatha, Banner of Christ, Shepherd of the Valley.

Concept Names. These names are more abstract and tend to convey atmosphere, attitude, focus, and other key qualities. Examples: Fresh Breeze, New Hope, Friendship, New Life, Fellowship, True Love. The popular "First," as in "First Baptist Church," could fit in this category, for want of a better place.