A name for Ceylon in the north

The story. Marco Polo wrote the island's name as Seilan. In Norwegian, seil means sail, so the name reads as "the island that arrived by sail". It carries the spice-trade history in one word that Norwegians already almost know, and it works for any product you add later.

Watch out. It sounds very close to "Ceylon", which is a protected EU origin name for cinnamon (PGI). A trademark office may treat Seilan as a reference to origin. Register the stylised logo as well as the word, and ask an IP attorney before committing.

The story. Siri means splendour and good fortune. It is the same word as the Sri in Sri Lanka, so it belongs to the whole country. Lys is Norwegian for light, and also for candle. Together they mean "splendid light". Siri is a common Norwegian girl's name too, so the name feels familiar to Norwegians at once.

Watch out. It is the warmest of the five, which suits a range priced from everyday to gift. It reads a little like a person's name, and Apple's Siri exists, though in a different product class. A web search found no brand called Sirilys. Candles and home scents would be a natural extension later.

The story. Serendib is the name Persian and Arab sailors gave the island, and it is the root of the English word "serendipity". Vik is Norse for bay or harbour. Together they mean "the harbour of happy discoveries". It is a name about travel and trade, with no tie to any one community.

Watch out. There are many "Seren-" brands, Serendib Tea among them, so the full word and its logo need to be registered together. A web search found no brand called Serenvik. It reads like a Norwegian place name, which feels local, but check for a real place with that name.

The story. Tambapanni, meaning "copper-coloured", after its sand, is the island's oldest recorded name. The Greek name Taprobane comes from it. With Norwegian lys (light), it becomes "copper light", which is also the colour of cinnamon bark. The palette is built into the name.

Watch out. It has the most beautiful story of the five but is the hardest to remember: three syllables with a root most Norwegians have never heard. It works best if packaging and the webshop tell the story every time. A web search found no brand called Tambalys.

The story. The oruwa is the outrigger canoe still seen along Sri Lanka's coasts, and Norse vik means bay or harbour (it is the root of "Viking"). Two seafaring cultures meet in one harbour. The name reads like a real Nordic village, the way Fiskars does.

Trade-off. It feels earthier and more crafted than the others. That is ideal for markets, gift boxes and a future crafts line, but less suited to the top of the price range. It is also close to Norwegian place names such as Orvik, so check that during trademark clearance.

The story. Hjord is Norwegian for herd. Elephants live in close family herds led by the eldest female, and the calves walk holding the tail of the elephant in front. For a family-run house bringing goods from Sri Lanka to Norway, the word says family and care. It is one syllable and as Nordic as a name can be, in the same spirit as Hay, Muuto and Fjords.

Watch out. It is the most Nordic and premium of the three, and the strongest elephant option. English speakers may stumble over the pronunciation, but Norwegians will not. It is an ordinary word and a surname, so register it together with the herd logo. A web search found no brand called Hjord.

The story. Minne is Norwegian for memory, and also for a keepsake. An elephant never forgets, and the brand promises a taste you remember. It suits gifting especially well, because in Norwegian a gift you keep is et minne. Two soft syllables in thin capitals make it the most quietly luxurious of the three.

Watch out. It is an everyday Norwegian word, so it is harder to register on its own than an invented name. Register it with the logo, and expect a lawyer to suggest a longer form, such as "Minne Ceylon". A web search found no Norwegian food or skincare brand called Minne.

The story. Gaja means elephant in Pali and Sanskrit, the classical languages that both Sinhala and Tamil draw on. Lund is Norse for grove. Together they mean "elephant grove", a picture of the wild herds that gather in Sri Lanka's forests every dry season. It sounds like a Nordic estate, in the same family as Lund or Gjøvik.

Watch out. It is the longest of the three, and the only one with the elephant in the name itself. Gaja is also a famous Italian wine estate, so a lawyer should check the drinks class before you add tea. A web search found no brand called Gajalund.

The story. Hilsen is Norwegian for a greeting. It is how Norwegians sign every card and letter, and "Hilsen fra Sri Lanka" is the line you write on a postcard home. Your elephant raises its trunk, which is how elephants greet each other and, across South Asia, a sign of good luck. Every jar becomes a greeting from the island, and that is exactly what a hostess gift is. It keeps your drawing and your line Smaken av Sri Lanka. Only the name changes.

Watch out. "Fra Ceylon" had to go: "Ceylon Cinnamon" is a protected EU origin name, so a name meaning "from Ceylon" would be very hard to register. Hilsen is an everyday word, like Minne, so register it together with the elephant, and a lawyer may suggest a longer form such as "Hilsen Lanka". A quick web search found no Norwegian spice or tea brand called Hilsen. Before you print, confirm that you own the elephant drawing.