What’s In A Name?

One of the most important aspects of creating a paranormal investigation team is selecting a proper name.  The name must denote competence, ability, compassion, integrity, etc.  A team’s name can either boost them to superstardom, or be the nail in their coffin.  The name is often the first thing the general public will see, and the decision to contact said team will be based solely on that ONE THING.

Also, it must spell a word.  The more clever the acronym, the better the team.

A good place to start is to think of a word that ends in “ps,” and adapt it to your location, as the “ps” will always be interchangeable with “paranormal society.”  T.A.P.S. did it, and it has worked well for them, although using the word “the” as part of your acronym is kind of second-rate, so try and steer clear.  For example, if you live in Providence, you could call yourselves the Providence Area Paranormal Society, or P.A.P.S.  Further, if you are a member of P.A.P.S., you could create another acronym to describe your methodology, like a systemic mechanized entire area recon, or S.M.E.A.R.  Ergo, you now have the patented P.A.P.S. SMEAR method of investigating.  Easy to read, easy to remember.

If you would prefer to refer to your team as a “research society,” that will also work really well, as many common words end in “rs.”  For example, if you want to call yourselves the Friends United Concerning Kids’ Experiences Research Society, you can easily just call yourselves F.U.C.K.E.R.S.  People are going to call you that anyway, so you might as well live up to the name.

Perhaps your group is slightly more spiritual and esoteric than other more technology-based groups.  You may consider calling yourselves the Vortex Alliance Group Investigating Noetic Assertions…V.A.G.I.N.A.  See?  You’re getting the hang of this, now, aren’t you?

Let’s think of some more –

Para-Truth Investigators, Truth Seekers…Para-TITS.

Supernatural Haunting Investigation Team…SHIT.

Chicago-Land Investigation Team…start filling in the blanks, kids.

Florence Area Research Team

Boston Investigative Team Exploring Metaphysical Experiences.

Louisiana Investigative Coalition’s Knights – Macabre Explorations

Friends United Concerning Kids – Organization Fighting Fear (a sub-group of F.U.C.K.E.R.S.)

Paranormal Exploration Discovery Organization – files (a patented system of cataloging evidence)

Wilmington Historical Organization Researching Experiences

Texans Exploring Supernatural Theories Investigating Claims, Lies, and Exaggerations

Lawton Investigation and Research Society

Clinton Historical Examiners Administering Truth

Tucson Historical Inaccuracy Examiners Vocalizing Exaggerated Situations (Hey, I think we’ve met these guys!)

Associates Supporting Supernatural Historically Accurate Truth

Branson Extreme Associates Specifying Truth in All Licensed Investigations Tracking Yeti

Missouri Organization Tracing Historical Experience Research (Often works alongside F.U.C.K.E.R.S.)

Dallas Instrumental Licensing Directive Organization Encouraging Acceptance, Teaching Experimental Research

Kids Investigating Supernatural Superstition, Making Youth Accept Spooky Specters!

Tennessee Wildlife Anomaly Team Leading Investigative Crypto-zoological Kindred Spirits

Given those copy written and proprietary examples, you can clearly see how the name of one’s paranormal investigation team can have a real impact on your overall success.  Once you have chosen the name that conveys the true spirit of your endeavor (much like the above examples) you can feel confident in the knowledge that your team will be equally successful!

 Good Luck!

Author’s Note:  Please be advised that these are names generated for this post and intended as satire.  Any similarity to any existing groups is purely coincidental.  Although, if there are any similarities, you ought to consider changing your name.