50 creative award names for employee recognition

Like naming a new product or family pet, naming employee recognition program awards can be just as difficult. Award names are crucial to workplace communication, company branding, and team morale.

At Cristaux International, we’ve helped hundreds of clients develop and name their own award programs. With our experience and expertise, we’d like to share 50 creative award names to consider when designing your program awards. From leadership awards to safety awards, we have you covered. By using an employee award categories list, it’s easier for you to focus on what you need to find inspiration for your specific program.

Award names for top performers

When excellence is celebrated, it inspires greatness in others. These kinds of awards should convey a sense of great accomplishment. Recipients embody the determination and development needed to achieve goals.

1. Excellence in Action Awards
2. Top 10 Innovators
3. Brilliance Awards
4. Best of (insert department name, quarter, project name, etc.)
5. Prime Performance Awards

For inspiration, check out Communication Arts‘ Award of Excellence program.

Award names for leadership

Leadership awards honor the role models creating positive change for their organizations and industries. For example, the James Beard Foundation honors culinary leaders every year. Consider the following ideas for any recognition program.

6. Impact Awards
7. Named after your organization’s founder
8. Pioneer Awards
9. Movers and Shakers Award
10. Ahead of the Curve Club

Award names for employees

Naming awards is an important part of creating employee recognition programs. Make sure that creative award titles for employees relate to the goal or purpose of the program. For example, Activision named awards after each company value to honor those who captured the organization’s characters.

11. Employee of the Month
12. MVP
13. Circle of Achievement
14. Named after your organization’s proprietary product, service, office pet, etc.
15. Employee Excellence Awards

Award names for customer service

Customer service is a crucial field for a business’s success. This type of recognition is truly deserved and incorporates the themes of excellent service.

16. Stellar Service Awards
17. Customer Comrade Awards
18. Hospitality Hero
19. Courtesy Awards
20. Service of the Year

Get design inspiration from our portfolio of custom awards.

Attendance recognition award names

Some employee recognition awards recognize the importance of attendance. These pieces celebrate dedication and commitment and honor those who show up for their teams.

21. All In Awards
22. 100% Awards
23. Integrity in Action
24. On Time and on Fire Club
25. Masters of Time

Peer to peer recognition award names

One type of employee awards is peer-to-peer recognition. This fun concept encourages participation from all staff members. Also, it feels great to be celebrated by those closest to recipients and who they work with every day.

26. Shout Outs
27. Standing Ovation Awards
28. The People’s Pick
29. The Team’s Tribute
30. Thank You Awards

Welcome aboard award names

Greeting new team members with genuine appreciation is essential to employee retention. To inspire future leaders, create awards to celebrate the accomplishments of new staff.

31. The Warm Welcome Award
32. The First Impression Award
33. Emerging Leader
34. Notable Newcomer
35. Grand Entrance

Discuss possibilities with our team in Cristaux’s virtual showroom.

Retirement award names

One’s retirement is an accomplishment that cannot be missed. Milestone awards and retirement gifts honor the legacy of hard-working employees. Check out this example from Granite.

36. Cheers to You
37. Bon Voyage Awards
38. Legacy Awards
39. The Last Hurrah
40. Farewell Awards

Sales award names

Sales trophies and sales awards inspire greatness and fierce competition. There are many different ways to celebrate salespeople, and some of them focus on making it into elite clubs and going above and beyond.

41. Million Dollar Club
42. Platinum Club
43. President’s Club Award
44. Chairman’s Award
45. The Victor Awards

Safety award names

Designed to commemorate those dedicated to high standards, safety awards applaud managers, businesses, and more that keep teams safe. These award titles reflect protection and excellent operations.

46. The Passionate Protector
47. Operator of the Year
48. The Hard Hat Awards
49. Manager with the Most
50. Danger Defeater

How do you come up with an award name?

When brainstorming ideas for your recognition award names, consider the following tips:

• Have fun
• Make it personal for your team and organization
• Keep it simple

When choosing employee recognition program names, make sure it reflects the goal of the program. You want the program name to convey the purpose of the program with great clarity. Some of the best employee award quotes can help develop the greatest programs. Consider these employee recognition program quotes for inspiration.

Inspire excellence with creative award names

Although it takes effort and creativity, naming your project makes it real. By choosing meaningful award titles for your company, you make your recognition efforts known. You express great care and employee appreciation for those around you. Once you’ve decided on a name, you’re ready to start designing and developing your program.

Contact the Cristaux team to begin creating today.

FAQs: award names

You may have some questions that need answers, so we’ve provided information on frequent questions from people like you. If you can’t find what you’re looking for below, visit our FAQ page or contact our team.

What are good award names?

Good award names are simple and meaningful for your organization. They also convey the purpose of the award in as few words as possible. You want recipients to easily understand what they are being celebrated for. Be clear and concise.

What are well known award show names?

Well-known award show names include the Oscars, the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Grammys. Popular award titles are also reflected in the design of the award. These traditions are rooted in well maintained excellence.

What are good superhero award names?

Good superhero award titles use words like “Super,” “Captain,” and “Protector.” Separate awards celebrate specific traits or achievements of the recipients. For example, you could honor the Defender of Safety Policies.