Application Name Guidelines

The goal here is to provide useful guidance for the proper use of application names in GNOME 3.

Discussion

Window titles should not duplicate the application name - GNOME 3 displays it in the top bar.
The desktop entry Name value, application menu (for GNOME shell), window titlebar (for GNOME 2.x), documentation, and about dialog should all use the same name
The desktop entry Name value should be the brand name unless the application is a simple (single purpose), core GNOME built-in and does not have an established external brand identity (web site, online help, etc)
Brand names should be considered carefully but can’t be relied on to indicate functionality in many languages
Application icons should supplement names of all kinds and are critical to recognizing already known applications

The Name field should be the application name
When the Name field is the same as the GenericName field, the GenericName should be removed
If there is no GenericName field, leave alone
If the Name field include both the application name and the generic name
- Add an X-GNOME-FullName field, with what was in Name
- Set the Name field to the application name only

It doesn’t make sense for Dictionary or Calculator (GNOME is implied) to be separately branded.
It is fairly clear that something like Firefox or Rhythmbox is branded.
Totem which actually do bit more than the generic name implies (It is a little strange that Movie Player plays songs and youtube – according to the description) but the name isn’t known outside of GNOME for the most part.
gedit is tough because the name doesn’t “read” well and it is a pretty core component. However, it does have an external presence and the authors feel it should be called gedit. Even though I disagree with it.

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Rhythmbox Music Player
_GenericName=Music Player

the goal would be to have:

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Rhythmbox
_GenericName=Music Player
_X-GNOME-FullName=Rhythmbox Music Player

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Music Player
_GenericName=Music Player

the goal would be to have:

[Desktop Entry]
_Name=Music Player