Google Nano Banana: How a 2:30 AM impulse became a real brand

How a 2:30 AM impulse became a real brand

In January 2026, Google shared a story that says more about branding than many brand guidelines do: How a new AI tool got the name "Nano Banana" during a late-night work session – and why it became a branding lesson. (blog.google)

The moment: too tired for strategy, too awake for conventions

Summer 2025. The Gemini 2.5 image model was ready – internally called Gemini 2.5 Flash Image. But before launching on the testing platform LMArena, it needed a name. At 2:30 AM, Product Manager Naina Raisinghani typed: Nano Banana. A mix of her two nicknames: "Nano" and "Naina Banana." No strategy. No process. Just a short, lucid moment. (blog.google)

The team laughed – and said: "Why not."

What happened next

The name stuck. And when the model launched on LMArena and impressed users, it gained traction – in forums, then social media. Google embraced it:

• The interface buttons turned banana yellow
• The Gemini app showed 🍌
• Today, the tool is called Nano Banana Pro (based on Gemini 3 Pro)

(blog.google, blog.google)

The branding lesson

This story isn't revolutionary – but it shows how brands emerge today.

1) Weird works.

The name explains nothing. But it sticks. Sometimes, that’s enough.

2) Context beats concept.

The name came from the product, not from a pitch deck.

3) Brands are made by people.

It lived on not through guidelines, but through resonance. A story that got shared.

(jetstream.blog, brandequity)

Why this matters for design

• Great names often come from context, not brainstorming.
• The moment matters: make the call, even if it's spontaneous.
• If a name carries a story, it builds connection.

Not everything needs to be explainable. But it should be felt.

Bottom line

"Nano Banana" was never meant to be a brand – but it became one. Not because it was perfect. But because someone said it out loud, at the right moment.

Want to talk about your brand?
We help teams find names that don’t just sound good – they stick.

Who We Are

Greg.design is a creative studio that works with a network of creative professionals to provide solutions for Swiss start-ups and SMEs.

We support future-proof rebranding, tackle creative challenges and promote the development of digital products – from strategy to modular style guides.

Sound interesting? Then let's talk!