All TEDx event names follow the same convention: a name beginning with TEDx, followed by a location-based descriptor such as the name of your city, school or neighborhood. (E.g., TEDxSydney, TEDxThames, TEDxUSC.) TED must approve your event's name. On the license application form, you'll check to see if the name you want is available; however, its availability is not a guarantee that you'll be granted the name.
Rules for TEDx event names:
- Country names: No country names will be granted, with the exception of small islands. No state names or province names will be granted.
- Major city names: Place names corresponding to major cities will be reserved for individuals organizing events attended by more than 100 people. (To organize an event attended by more than 100 people, you need to have attended a TED conference in person.)
- Building names: No building or museum names will be granted.
- Co-branded names: Names co-branded with organizations, non-profits and NGOs are not allowed. We don't co-brand with other conferences or seminars. We only co-brand with schools and universities, eg TEDxUSC.
- Corporate names: When approved, corporations can only organize private, internal TEDx events (e.g., an event named TEDxPWCDublin may only be attended by PWC employees).
- Theme names: Generally, we will not approve theme-based names (e.g., "TEDxMarketing" or "TEDxEducation"). We will not approve any location-based name with a theme or vertical added to it (e.g., "TEDxSydneyDesign" or "TEDxNewYorkSpace"). You may give your event program a theme ("Revolutionary Ideas"), but the name of your TEDx event (appearing on your logo, website, etc.) must be the standard location-based name.
- Name abbreviation / variation: Name abbreviations and variations are not allowed. You must always refer to your event with the name you were approved for. (E.g., if you are licensed for "TEDxPhoenix," you may not refer to your event as "TEDxPHX" or any other variation. You must refer to it as "TEDxPhoenix" in all copy, messaging, logos, etc.)
TEDx no longer licenses location nicknames or large city/regional names. In addition, if you are choosing a street name, river, lake or other such entity, your event name must have a location qualifier where appropriate, such as TEDxRegentSt, TEDxBrickLane, TEDxRawaRiver.
Even if your city name is taken, you can name your event after a street or neighborhood, for example, in London there are more than ten local TEDx events, including TEDxLondon, TEDxRegentSt, TEDxEaling, TEDxEastEnd, TEDxSquareMile, TEDxTeddington, TEDxKensington, TEDxBow, TEDxEuston and TEDxMarylebone.
Next: Types of TEDx events »