diff --git a/fin_defs/__init__.py b/fin_defs/__init__.py
index 3b0cfca..f5223cc 100644
--- a/fin_defs/__init__.py
+++ b/fin_defs/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import dataclasses
 import datetime
 import re
 from decimal import Decimal
+import abc
 
 import enforce_typing
 
@@ -105,6 +106,11 @@ class Asset:
             return FiatCurrency(polygon_id.removeprefix('C:').removesuffix('USD'))
         return Stock.from_polygon_id(polygon_id)
 
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def raw_short_name(self) -> str:
+        """A short name or ticker that does not nessisarily uniquely identify
+        the asset, but may be commonly used within the industry."""
+
     def to_string_id(self) -> str:
         """Formats the asset id using the fin_defs asset format."""
         if isinstance(self, Stock):
@@ -167,6 +173,8 @@ class FiatCurrency(Currency):
             msg = f'iso_code was not in correct format: {self.iso_code}'
             raise ValueError(msg)
 
+    def raw_short_name(self) -> str:
+        return self.iso_code
 
 @enforce_typing.enforce_types
 @dataclasses.dataclass(frozen=True, eq=True)
@@ -181,6 +189,9 @@ class CryptoCurrency(Currency):
             raise ValueError(msg)
         """
 
+    def raw_short_name(self) -> str:
+        return self.ccxt_symbol
+
 @enforce_typing.enforce_types
 @dataclasses.dataclass(frozen=True, eq=True)
 class Stock(Asset):
@@ -197,6 +208,9 @@ class Stock(Asset):
     def from_polygon_id(polygon_id: str, stock_exchange: StockExchange) -> 'Stock':
         return Stock(polygon_id, stock_exchange)
 
+    def raw_short_name(self) -> str:
+        return self.ticker
+
 
 @enforce_typing.enforce_types
 @dataclasses.dataclass(frozen=True, eq=True)
@@ -208,6 +222,8 @@ class Index(Asset):
             msg = f'ticker was not in correct format: {self.ticker}'
             raise ValueError(msg)
 
+    def raw_short_name(self) -> str:
+        return self.ticker
 
 @enforce_typing.enforce_types
 @dataclasses.dataclass(frozen=True, eq=True)
@@ -219,6 +235,9 @@ class Commodity(Asset):
             msg = f'alpha_vantage_id was not in correct format: {self.alpha_vantage_id}'
             raise ValueError(msg)
 
+    def raw_short_name(self) -> str:
+        return self.alpha_vantage_id # TODO
+
 
 Commodity.CRUDE_OIL_WTI = Commodity('WTI')
 Commodity.CRUDE_OIL_BRENT = Commodity('BRENT')
@@ -289,7 +308,7 @@ WELL_KNOWN_SYMBOLS = (
         ]
     }
     | {'XXBT': BTC}
-    | {str(k): k for k in COMMON_NAMES}
+    | {k.raw_short_name(): k for k in COMMON_NAMES}
     | {'SPX500': SPX, 'SP500': SPX, 'Nasdaq 100': NDX}
 )