How can a brand name for purified water capture freshness, relaxation and a distinctive personality without overpromising? The coined name Dasani managed to do this, thanks to its linguistic structure and its one meaningful root—san—that means clean, healthy.

The name’s elemental quality comes from its three basic syllables: da, sa and ni.

The CV syllable (a single consonant followed by a vowel) is the very basis of pronunciation in the world’s language, yet in English, it’s rare for a three-syllable word to consist solely of such simple syllables. (Look for words composed entirely of CV syllables on this page, and you’ll find them in the simplest words, like of and the.)

While the root san makes an appearance, its effect is muted by what comes before and after it. Typically, we’d expect a prefix or a suffix, such as in insane or sanitary. Instead, we find the meaningless elements da and i. This encourages an analysis of the name into the three syllables da, sa, and ni, none of which suggests an existing English word.

As a result, the name sounds new, unfamiliar, and almost exotic.

Additionally, at three syllables, Dasani is not particularly short. If Dasani were an energy drink, a shorter name might have been better. As it is, the length suggests a more relaxing pause.