Motorola has just applied for a trademark on the “Moto Maxx” moniker. Unfortunately, it’s unclear at this stage what the name could to be used for, primarily due to the combination of names from two different ranges of smartphones, but, of course, its certainly got us thinking.

“Moto” is Motorola’s most recent lineup of handsets. The range consists of native Android-powered devices that ship unlocked, skin-free and do not contain any proprietary software (often referred to as bloatware).

Whereas “Maxx” is linked to the company’s previous lineup of “Droid”-branded smartphones, which were exclusively developed for Verizon and featured an awesome, non-removable custom user interface.

So, as you can see, the naming scheme is a little mystifying. Could Motorola be preparing to merge its newly-established Moto line with its famous Maxx range of devices for a flagship Verizon-exclusive smartphone? Or has Big Red opted to drop the Droid branding and give rights back to the Lenovo-owned firm? Either way, we are somewhat confused.

It’s perfectly feasible that this name will never see the light of day, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep our eyes peeled and pay close attention to any upcoming patents or FCC filings.

• SourceUSPTO