5 Creative Ways to Name Your New Home

Congratulations! You’re the proud owner of a dream property in Malta – that quirky house of character or open-plan apartment or perfectly proportioned townhouse is all yours! You’ve decorated and furnished it exactly the way you planned you would and there’s just one thing left to do… give your home a name!

Naming your new home 

Opinion is often divided on this subject. Some people are happy with a street number and that’s just fine, but some of us fully embrace the whole naming of the house concept and see it as a way to ‘personalise’ what is likely to be the biggest purchase you will ever make. 

Sometimes we inherit a name when we buy a type of property, but most first-time buyers will have the luxury of a blank canvas. Here in Malta, we love our vanity licence plates so why not try to inject a little personality into your address? And believe it or not, it’s been proven that having a name for your property might help you sell it when the time comes. 

Now, of course, we can’t talk about Maltese house names without acknowledging some firm favourites. For many years the fashion here was to create a combination of the owners’ names, resulting in gems such as Josmar (Joseph and Maria) and Ginphil (Gina and Philip). If that appeals then go for it, but if you want to try something different, here are five creative ways to come up with the perfect moniker!

1. Simple Signature 

What is unique about your property in Malta? Perhaps it’s the ironwork or the colourful shutters? Does it have ivy-covered walls, a front garden full of roses or a beautiful bougainvillea? Maybe the location or the view makes it stand out? 

Focusing on a distinctive feature can make for a simple, but appealing house name. Let’s not forget, your new home is on a beautiful Mediterranean island, so you could choose from any number of lyrical Maltese words and give your home a truly local name. Naming your property after the old mithna tad-dqiq is a lovely idea but do bear in mind how many times you might have to spell that out for your foreign friends!

2. Historical Handle

Not all of us can live in a historical type of property, like a farmhouse for rent or a townhouse for sale, but we can draw inspiration from the past for our house name. Explore the history of the area to see what was there once upon a time. Perhaps there was an old mill or a schoolhouse? Or maybe there was an orchard or grove of olive trees? Or possibly someone of note once lived in the neighbourhood?

Those landmarks and people may be gone, but you could keep their memory alive by naming your home after them. Or if you were feeling especially sentimental you could use your family name – like the French dynasty The House of Bourbon (you could also use this if you are really fond of biscuits).

3. Literary Label

Do you have a favourite book? Is there a favourite place in that book that you’ve always longed to visit? This is your chance to stimulate the imagination of prospective visitors (and in time maybe potential buyers) before they’ve even seen your home, by choosing a name inspired by literature. Brideshead, Pemberley, Tara, Manderley, Green Gables – the list is extensive, but perhaps steer clear of Toad Hall or Bleak House. 

4. Personal Property

Do you have a special memory of a holiday or a stay somewhere? Naming your house or any type of property in Malta after a location that really means something to you will make you smile every time you tell somebody your address. 

Maybe you whiled away some magical hours in Cinque Terre or honeymooned in Portofino? Maybe you’re longing to travel to Machu Pichu or Fuerteventura? Or maybe you’re happy to be right here in Malta and want to name your house after your favourite spot on the island? Whatever the choice, it’s a great conversation starter – rest assured, people will always want to know why you named your house Xanadu.

5. Trailblazing Title

So none of the above ideas appeal? Why not take a more avant-garde approach and make up a name – something you just like the sound of! You can also find house name-generators online, guaranteed to come up with something unique and possibly unpronounceable. 

A recent report showed that more than 800 European homes now have Game of Throne’s inspired names – Tyrell, Stark and even Frey House proving most popular. One die-hard Star Trek fan has called his villa Empok Nor, and several more have taken inspiration from their favourite football teams/writers/fashion designers.  

‘What’s in a name?’ Shakespeare famously said. Well, a house name can reveal a lot about the person who lives there. Have fun with your new Maltese property and don’t be afraid to put it on the map. Literally! And of course, if you are still on the lookout for a type of property you will eventually need to name, reach out to RE/MAX!

Learn more about Maltese facades and decorations like how to restore a Maltese balcony.