[theme-reviewers] Clarification of Theme Naming Rules

Thu Jan 31 16:26:52 UTC 2013

Stuart: your differentiation is exactly how I would interpret the Theme
Name guideline as it currently exists. To extend the Guidelines example
Theme name: "AwesomeSauce Mobile" would be fine; "MobileWP" would not be.
At least, that's how I would interpret them.

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 11:14 AM, Stuart Wider <stuartwider at gmail.com>wrote:

> Thanks guys for your thoughts on naming rules.
> Its helping me to formulate my own new theme name,
> which of course will be using precisely none of the terms discussed so far
> ;)
>
> Emil,
> When discussing names I'm not focussing on the name Responsive Theme per
> se. The word responsive just happens to be a visible example of the naming
> conundrum, and of course (if we forget the namespace issue for a moment)
> its a very good name because its short, sweet and instantly lets people
> know exactly what's in the box, and in that respect, from both a user and
> the developers perspective, ideal  :)
>
> Chip,
> I can see how naming issues can be very tricky and subjective.
> As I was mulling over possible names for my own new theme I also started
> thinking about how the Theme name guidelines in this respect could possibly
> be less-subjective/more objective without necessarily being complex.
>
> I'd suggest there are two types of related terms in the theme naming
> space...
>
> 1. Generic Terms ... *Blog*, *Web Log*, *Template*, *Skin, Theme *
> Of course you already have these covered in the guidelines and this is
> sensible as they are essentially 'nothing' words in terms of a theme
> repository
>
> 2. Descriptive Web related Terms
> These terms are common but useful for names as they help a user know
> what's actually in the box when used in a theme name. They are helpful and
> add meaning (ie not generic terms as above).
> eg.
> Store, Mobile, Cart, Directory, Gallery... etc etc
>
> So for example,
>
> 'Retroactive Mobile'
> I would say this would be good name... as the name lets you know exactly
> what it is. Its probably a Retro theme and its mobile.
>
> 'Futurizmo Pet Store'
> Again I would say that this is a good name as you can see from the title
> that this theme is likely to be futuristic and pet store related.
>
> but for example...
>
> If a theme is named just
>  'Mobile'
> without anything else I would say that this was not a good name for use in
> the repository where other themes may also benefit from using that word
> descriptively.
>
> So maybe a possible guideline idea would be:
>
> - Allowed: Descriptive Web Terms used as part of an original theme name
> (eg Retroactive Mobile)
>
> - Not Allowed: Descriptive Web Terms used on their own (eg Mobile)
>
> This would keep the namespace of commonly used and descriptive web terms
> fair and open for all.
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 10:19 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>wrote:
>
>> And that is the reason for the wording against overly generic "related"
>> terms in Theme names. "Responsive" is pretty close to that line, for
>> exactly the reasons being brought up here.
>>
>> (And this sort of thing is the reason that I've always tried to push for
>> Guidelines to be as objective as feasible: the Theme Name guideline is very
>> much subjective, and thus a potential source of confusion, disagreement,
>> and inconsistency. Though, I don't know that the Theme Name guideline could
>> feasibly be made any less-subjective/more-objective.)
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 6:42 PM, Stuart Wider <stuartwider at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Emil,
>>> I would say that Twenty Eleven is a subtly different kind of name, when
>>> its usage is for themes,
>>>  Twenty Eleven is not commonly used as a web design or theme related
>>> term.
>>> Whereas for example, Responsive or Mobile are commonly used web or theme
>>> design terms and therefore useful in titles so that users know exactly what
>>> kind of theme it is just by looking at the name .
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 9:43 AM, Emil Uzelac <emil at themeid.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Stuart,
>>>>
>>>> Here's me speaking from TRT point of view and taking "Responsive" out.
>>>>
>>>> Twenty Eleven is a number "2011", even more common than the word
>>>> "Responsive", but we still can't use "Super Twenty Eleven".
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Emil
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 5:03 PM, Stuart Wider <stuartwider at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Guys,
>>>>> I note that in the theme review guidelines that is says...
>>>>> "Themes are *not* to use related Theme names (e.g. *WP Twenty Eleven*
>>>>> , *Twenty Eleven WP*, *The Twenty Eleven*, etc.) in their name"
>>>>>
>>>>> Does this mean that if a theme on the repository already has used a
>>>>> particular word in its name that it cannot be used in another themes name?
>>>>>
>>>>> Lets take Emil's theme for example.. The word 'Responsive' is a common
>>>>> usage word.
>>>>>
>>>>> Does the rule above intend that no other theme could use a common
>>>>> usage word such as 'Responsive' in their title, and that Responsive theme
>>>>> itself has the only rights to use that word in a title, on first come first
>>>>> served basis?
>>>>>
>>>>> Here's some quick made up examples of what I mean...
>>>>>
>>>>> Super Responsive
>>>>> Mobile Responsive
>>>>> Responsive to the Max
>>>>>
>>>>> Would those pass as theme names with the above rule? or not allowed?
>>>>>
>>>>> If those names were not allowed then it would follow that if I decided
>>>>> to release a theme called 'Mobile' then no one else would be able to name
>>>>> their theme with the word 'Mobile' in it eg. Ultra Mobile, Mobile Plus,
>>>>> Mega Mobile.
>>>>>
>>>>> To sum up...
>>>>> I'm seeking clarification on whether common usage words can be
>>>>> included in new theme name, even if an existing theme uses the common usage
>>>>> word.
>>>>>
>>>>> Its an interesting conundrum ;)
>>>>>
>>>>> Many Thanks,
>>>>> Stuart
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> theme-reviewers mailing list
>>>>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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>
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