How to Name a Farm: 10 Meaningful Ideas for Creating a Name With a Story

Choosing a farm name can be one of the most personal parts of making a place your own. The best farm names often come from somewhere real—a family story, the land itself, a favorite memory, an old photograph, or even a beloved book. Here's how I found the perfect name for our historic Pennsylvania farmhouse—and how you can find a meaningful name for yours. A Treasured Storybook

Start With the Story Behind Your Farm

When we decided to name our farm, I didn't want a name that simply sounded pretty. I wanted something that had meaning.

Our farmhouse is located in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by old farms, stone houses, and beautiful countryside. We moved here in 2007, after our family outgrew our first historic home.

The house we found was a wonderful old clapboard farmhouse with a wrap-around porch, a barn, enormous trees, and plenty of history.

But as much as I loved the property, it didn't have a name.

So, naturally, I decided it needed one.

Front View Windy Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of Kim Bensing Design.

How Do You Choose a Farm Name?

If you're wondering how to name a farm, start by looking around you.

Before making a long list of clever farm names, look for the stories that already exist on your property.

Ask yourself:

• What is the history of the land?

• Who lived here before you?

• Is there an interesting family name connected to the property?

• What natural features surround the farm?

• Is your farm on a hill, beside a creek, in a valley, or near a particular grove of trees?

• Are there old barns, stone walls, gardens or outbuildings?

• What animals, flowers or crops are special to the property?

• Is there a favorite childhood memory associated with the land?

• Are there old photographs, maps, letters or documents that might reveal something?

• Is there a book, song or story that has a personal connection to your family?

Sometimes the best farm name ideas aren't invented at all. They're discovered.

Windy Hill’s wrap-around balcony is not original to the farmhouse. We think it was added sometime in the early 1980s. It’s very nice and provides a great place to catch 9 simultaneous fireworks shows on the 4th of July.

Look to the Land for Farm Name Ideas

The landscape itself can be a wonderful source of inspiration.

Think about words that describe your property:

Hill • Hollow • Meadow • Grove • Creek • Brook • Orchard • Field • Valley • Ridge • Woods • Garden • Acres • Farm

You can combine these with something personal.

For example:

• Willow Hill Farm

• Fox Hollow Farm

• Meadow Grove

• Old Oak Farm

• Windy Hill Farm

• Rose Hill

• Bluebird Farm

• Orchard House

A good farm name doesn't necessarily need to explain everything about the property. Sometimes one evocative word is enough to create a feeling.

Snow covered little Cottage at Windy Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of Kim Bensing Design.

Look Into Your Farm's History

If you own an older property, spend some time investigating its past before choosing a name.

Old deeds, maps, photographs, newspapers and family records can reveal fascinating clues.

And don't overlook your neighbors.

Someone who has lived in the area for decades may know something about your property that you could never find online.

That's exactly what happened to us.

Walpole Lamppost and sign created by McElHaney Signs here in town.

The Story Behind Windy Hill Farm

For years, I had owned a little vintage children's storybook called The Ghost of Windy Hill.

It was one of my favorite weekly readers as a child, and somehow that little book stayed on my bookshelf throughout my entire life.

The book was written in 1966—the same year I was born—and the story takes place in 1851, around the same era our farmhouse was built.

I had never imagined that the book would eventually inspire the name of our home.

But then we discovered something about the property.

Our farmhouse sits at the top of a ridge, surrounded by enormous old trees. The wind moves through the property constantly, whistling through the original windows and across the hill.

When it gets windy here, it gets really windy.

Suddenly, the name seemed obvious.

Windy Hill’s side view with a big old tree. Photo courtesy of Kim Bensing Design

Windy Hill.

The old storybook gave the name a personal history, while the land itself gave it meaning.

And just like that, our farm had a name.

View of Windy Hill’s Barn behind a lilac. Photo courtesy of John Arehart Photography.

Sometimes the History Finds You

After we named the property Windy Hill, something unexpected began happening.

People started stopping by.

Over the years, approximately twenty people have told us that they had once lived in the house, visited the property or spent time in the old barn.

Then one summer day, an older woman named Dee and her daughter stopped by.

Dee told us that she and her cousin had spent summers here during the 1930s. The farm had belonged to their aunt and uncle, and the property held some of her favorite childhood memories.

A week later, Dee returned with her cousin.

They brought old photographs.

They showed us pictures of the property from decades earlier and even brought a hand-drawn floor plan of the house.

As we walked through the rooms together, they remembered where old doorways had been and explained why certain parts of the house seemed unusual.

Then Dee's cousin stopped before what is now our dining room.

He said there had once been a large hole in the floor for the heat.

We had always known there was something unusual about the floorboards, but we had never understood why.

Sure enough, there was a covered opening exactly where he remembered it.

It was one of those moments when a house stops being simply a house.

It becomes a story.

Dee, her daughter, her cousin, Kim & Mike Bensing.

Meaningful Farm Names Often Come From the Past

That experience changed the way I think about naming a property.

A farm name doesn't have to be clever.

It doesn't have to follow a trend.

And it doesn't have to be something you come up with in one afternoon.

The most memorable farm names with meaning often connect the present to the past.

Your perfect name might be hiding in:

• An old family photograph

• A childhood book

• The name of a former owner

• A nearby landmark

• A favorite tree

• A creek or hill

• An old field name

• A family tradition

• A local legend

• The history of the property

• A meaningful event that happened there

How to Choose the Right Farm Name

Once you've gathered your ideas, make a short list.

Then say each name out loud.

Does it feel natural?

Is it easy to remember?

Can people spell it?

Will it still make sense if your farm changes or grows?

And most importantly:

Does the name mean something to you?

A good farm name should feel like it belongs to the land.

You don't necessarily need the most unique name. You need the name that feels right.

Dining Room Floorboards at Windy Hill Farm.

Give Your Farm a Name That Can Become Part of Its History

After choosing Windy Hill, we installed a beautiful lamppost and sign at the entrance to the property.

That little sign became more than decoration.

It gave our home an identity.

Over the years, it has become part of the story of this place—and now, whenever someone asks where we live, I can simply say:

Windy Hill.

And somehow, that says so much more than an address ever could.

If you're trying to name your own farm, farmhouse, homestead or historic property, look for the story before you look for the name.

You may discover that the perfect name has been there all along.

Historic Images of Windy Hill Farm circa 1930s.

More Studio Sprig Inspiration

If you love historic homes, gardens, flowers and the stories behind beautiful places, explore more of Studio Sprig's floral art, surface patterns and inspiration from Windy Hill Farm.

And if your property has a story of its own, I'd love to hear it.

View of Property from the Barn. Photo courtesy of John Arehart Photography.

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How to choose an interesting place to stay when you travel or go on vacation

how do you search?

When it’s time to plan a vacation or just get away for a few days, do you tend to go to popular sites like hotels.com or Expedia and search for a place to stay? Do you choose based solely on price? Do you surf trip advisor and read lots of reviews, or do you go to the same beach house year after year and keep it simple?

In the past, I’ll admit I have sometimes relied upon a trusted upscale hotel site mainly because it is so easy. The rooms are generally very reliable and the site I like has a great interface. I can always count on them. In addition, they have hotels in most major cities around the world. Super EASY, right?

While it may be it’s easy, reliable, and clean, it’s not very interesting and the spaces don’t inspire me that much. Because of that, over the years I have been able to find some unique and very affordable hotels, inns, or glampsites. I’ll share one with you today, but be sure to subscribe now so you don’t miss out on future blogs featuring some very cool spaces. Now, on to why noticing creativity in travel is important to me.

why bother, it’s just a bed and a shower and you’re hardly there?

While this may be exactly what my husband often says, and while he may be technically correct, my theory is the same for this as it is for most things in my life. If I’m not going to try my best, why try it at all?

Let me give you a little history. I graduated with a bachelor of science from the University of Delaware where I studied to become an Art Director. My fellow classmates and I traveled in what might be called a small cohort. There were only 22 students accepted into the creative program that year long ago when I applied and we are all still very close today (thank you Facebook). During my time in the program, I was greatly inspired by our small team of 3 professors, one for each creative discipline: Advertising, Design, and Photography. What these teachers taught my cohort, changed my outlook forever. They challenged us to become, not just Art Directors, but also conceptual thinkers, who try to make the world a more inspiring place. Here are some mantras they taught that stick with me to this day.
Go big or go home.
Make it worth my time or please don’t bother.
Do great work and work hard to make a difference.
Therefore, I believe everybody, everything, and every place has an interesting story to tell. This belief has inspired my business and much of my life. So, I’ll share with you why I think it’s important, and fun to apply this philosophy here.

look hard, discover always

Late this summer my husband and I decided to take a short trip and visit a friend who had moved up to Maine. We are from Pennsylvania so the drive is about 9.5 hours. This is too long for anyone to drive non-stop, so I was tasked with mapping out the trip, and to be clear, this includes determining the route, the restaurants, the hotels, and the activities. All of it.

It took me a few days to decide which route through New England we would take because I always want to stop in Newport, RI. It’s one of my favorites and the victorian mansions are worth repeating. But this time I decided we’d travel a bit further and land for our first night all the way up in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit is a town I was especially eager to see because it’s my brother’s favorite and I have never been.

After days of internet surfing and loads of Trip Advisor reviews under my belt, I just wasn’t finding anything…interesting. The bed and breakfasts, as much as I love them, seemed stuffy and expensive this time, so the search was difficult. Then my brother suggested I try searching in a neighboring town. That was the ticket. You’ll see what I mean in a minute.

notice creativity everywhere

I began googling neighboring towns to Ogunquit and I found the small town of York. I am not at all familiar with Maine, except for the popular spots like Bar Harbor and such, so let me tell you why tiny York captured my attention.

York is about 15 minutes from Ogunquit, an important fact for this trip as Ogunquit was our destination. But in York, I found this newly restored little, retro-boutiquey-motel-ish-like place. A super trendy new/old hotel whose conceptual website STORY inspired me enough that I called and booked a room on the spot. The hotel was The York Beach Surf Club and here is why I liked it.

My husband Michael in front of the York Beach Surf Club, York, Maine

the name got me

First of all, I’ll admit the name did get me, immediately. The York Beach Surf Club has a fantastic name. It’s unexpected, edgy, and really fun. I like that. It doesn’t sound like a hotel at all. Instead, it sounds like a really cool place to rest after spending some time away from home. I dug into the website a little more, learned the history of the name and the people responsible for that history, and I was hooked. Very happy with my discovery. So we took off from Pennsylvania on a Tuesday afternoon in pursuit of a Surf Club.

We arrived in York sometime after 7 pm and checked in at the front desk which was located in a small outbuilding right next to where Michael is standing. The very functional multi-use space is a lobby, a front desk, a gift shop, a cafe, and…bingo, a modern mini-bar, which was very welcoming Tuesday evening! I was impressed with everything so far, the overall design, the layout, and even the funky logo. Attention to detail is important. Logos are details and the first thing most people see. This one has the “vibe” we were looking for.

why it’s good to drink coffee

The room was nice and had a very simple, modern, clean design. We had an oceanfront room with a small balcony so we could see the sea. That was great. All good for our one-night stay.

The next morning we woke to hurricane-style “Maine rain”, lots of wind and rain blowing in off the ocean making it quite cold. A little upsetting as we only had one day to spend seeing both York and Ogunquit. But, through the gale, I somehow made it over to the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar for my large cup of hot coffee, and luckily I did because guess who I met? None other than Taylor Perkins, the owner and restoration genius behind The York Beach Surf Club!

Taylor offered me a danish, but I kindly refused as I’m reducing sugar these days, and instead, I turned the conversation to what I was obsessing over and burst out with: “SERIOUSLY, YOU’RE THE OWNER!!! :) THIS PLACE IS AMAZING, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO ALL OF THIS???” That may have been exactly what I said, with precisely that amount of enthusiasm as, by now, we were both sitting on the sweet pink chairs pictured below at the mini-bar turned morning coffee bar. Remember, it was torrential outside and so Taylor and I had lots of time to chat.

create a mystique

While we sipped our lattes, Taylor shared his story of growing up in York, its historical relevance, and why he came back home to renovate an old Motel and gave it a crazy, funky name. He explained that he spent a long time looking around for a property that his family could transform. They had a vision and wanted to create a cooler “STAY experience” for younger, travelers looking for something less intimidating than stuffy, upscale bed and breakfasts, but nicer than traditional, old Maine motels. After months of searching, they found that The Old York Harbor Motel was for sale. It was perfect, situated right on the ocean and it had good bones and loads of history. It even had a pool that could be brought back to modern life. Taylor shared his photo album with me and told a few stories of the difficulties and setbacks they suffered through during the pandemic restoration. He told me about his close relationship with his father and about his dad’s love of surfing. He even shared a painting of his dad that he has prominently displayed near the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar. His heart was really in this and it showed.

Taylor’s dad, Sonny Perkins, was the first surfer in the State of Maine with a fiberglass surfboard and in 1963 he started a surfing club with a loose coalition of surfers/friends to represent York in surfing contests along the east coast.

So 2020 when Taylor and his team of friends and family began the extensive renovation of the old York Harbor Motel, they were looking for a name. Since Taylor had grown up hearing the stories of the York Beach Surf Club and its members, they decided this name created the perfect mystique. And so became the York Beach Surf Club, hotel.

After a multi-million dollar restoration with the addition of the new pool, food & beverage cafe, and fully renovated buildings and bungalows, the property was now ready for its next 50 years and generations of York visitors. The York Beach Surf Club just celebrated its first season as it opened in the Spring of 2022. I am happy to report we are two of its early adopters!

why details are cool

All photography throughout the hotel is curated entirely from locals, of locals and I think this is so important when you are creating a style or building a brand. The photos reminded me of photos I’ve seen of my parents and that warmed my heart as I walked down the halls. You can see my reflection in the photo below. I took this photo because this woman is the spitting image of my aunt circa 1964. Wow. The images were enlarged, framed, and neatly hung down the hallways and in all the rooms. A nostalgic touch that I think was very well done.

inspiring interest

In the small lobby, the resort also pays homage to the original 1960’s surf collective, The York Beach Surf Club, and tells the unique story of the evolution of surfing in Maine. There is also a prestigious collection of 1960’s Longboards, lots of logo-imprinted swag & Maine Surf Photography available to guests.

SURF MANIA: 1963-1980 MAINE

York, Maine has a deep history of being the playground of the northeast, and one of the top summer hot spots on the east coast. Originally located at the end of the whistle stop, vacationers would take the train up to York to enjoy a stay in one of the many beautiful victorian hotels dotting the oceanfront. As the evolution of the automobile changed commerce in the area, the shift to exterior corridor motels took the country by storm, creating a dynamic couple of decades of design in the building styles celebrating the culture of the automobile and travel.

As a locale for summer migration with a permanent influx of travelers, York Beach inevitably found itself at the frontline of the wave of 60’s surf culture. A place infused with the spirit of rebellion and the creative experimental edge of the 60’s, surfing found a place here amongst the southern Maine youth.

Some surf club perks today!

Pineapple All-Day Cafe
The Pineapple Cafe, located in front of the York Beach Surf Club, is an all-day cafe opening at 7am daily with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day.

Heated Saline Pool
The new heated saline pool has over 3,500 feet of saltwater complete with beach entry, splash pad for laying out, and poolside food & cocktail service for guests of the surf club!

The Rolling Pearl
The flagship food truck camper, the Rolling Pearl, is open on weekends and for special events with cocktail service and snacks by the pool!

Surfing and Surf Instruction
The York Beach Surf Club is partnering with local vendors to offer summer surfing camps and private lessons!

The Daybreak Coffee Company
The Surf Company’s own coffee brand, Daybreaker Coffee Co., has a retail store located in the Pineapple All-Day Cafe.

Rooms and Spaces
The room photographs below were captured by Photographer Craig Capello. If you are interested in hiring Craig for a photo shoot, you can contact him here.

Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com

Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com

Photography: Read McKendree

I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration about how to find an interesting place to stay when you travel or go on vacation. I’ve included a few creative books below that you may find to spark your interest. Please be sure to leave comments as well. I’d love to hear your interesting STAY STORIES.

I’ve included the York Beach Surf Club’s contact information below should you want to pay a visit the next time you head to Maine. If you do, please mention Kim from Studio Sprig as Taylor would love to hear how you found him. Thank you.

Instagram: @YORKBEACHSURFCLUB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorkBeachSurfClub
Web: www.yorkbeachsurfclub.com
Email: reservations@theyorkbeachsurfclub.com
Phone: 207-363-SURF

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Learn: Top 25 books to unleash your creative potential. A great list.
Create: Find something you think needs “reviving” and take serious steps toward changing it.
Inspire: Share this post with the next real estate professional, contractor, or builder you meet. Be the change.

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I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. - Kim

Photo credits: The owner’s historical footage, Kim Bensing, Craig Capello and Read McKendree

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