So you’ve got a great idea for a business. You’re sure it’s the next big thing, and you’re ready to start bringing it to life.
But first you need a name.
If you were Evan Williams, you’d already have come up with a name like Odeo or Twitter.
Instead, you’ve had 100 name ideas–and they were all terrible. Now you’re looking for some outside help.
Naming your startup is hard, but as it happens, there are some useful tools out there that can help you find the brand that’ll make you famous.
Here’s a look at five of the best (plus a few bonus tools that didn’t quite make the cut).
Visual Thesaurus
The first step in the naming process is to search for a base or root word for your brand name, which you can modify or extend to create your final brand name.
Once you have a base word in mind, it’s a good idea to search for alternatives that might work better as a brand name. This is where Visual Thesaurus comes in!
Following in Evan’s footsteps, you may want to go with “audio” if you are starting a podcasting company, and the visual thesaurus gives you a range words that are synonyms or similar to the meaning of the root word.
Although this is a paid service, it offers a 14-day risk free trial.
UberSuggest
If you are going to start an online product, why not name it something that people already search for? UberSuggest tells you exactly that.
Enter your base word and UberSuggest attaches letters and numbers to it, and then checks for suggestions. It shows you what people usually search for containing your base word, arranged in alphabetical order.
UberSuggest recursively searches for suggestions, which means that if you click on one suggestion, you are shown further suggestions based on that and so on.
You can shortlist terms as you go through the list, then transfer the list to your clipboard later.
WerdMerge
A portmanteau is generated by combining two or more words together and joining the shared letters or sounds. Pinterest (pin and interest) is an example of a portmanteau.
WerdMerge helps you generate portmanteaus, starting with your base word.
You can click on suggested words in WerdMerge to generate additional portmanteaus.
Impossibility
If portmanteaus aren’t working out, you might try Impossibility, a tool that finds unregistered domains by appending or prepending adjectives, nouns or verbs of a certain length to your base word. Let’s try it out on our base word, “audio.”
You can customize whether to add the words at the beginning or end of your base word, as well as the length and nature of the new word.
NameChk
Once you are fairly certain of a name, you should start wondering about registering domains and social accounts for the name. NameChk does that for you while you sit back and relax. Just enter your potential name and NameChk tells you if those usernames are available on different social networks and possible domain names you could register. Let us pick up one portmanteau and check its availability across different websites.
NameChk is a huge timesaver. Once you’ve narrowed your list down to a few favorites, run them through NameChk to avoid unpleasant surprises later.
Bonus tools
No name yet? Here are a few extra tools that are also useful–or just plain fun.
FAKE WORD is a random name generator, which, as the title suggests, generates meaningless terms like “kuzzooroo” or “azoofile”.
Wordoid is a naming tool that generates catchy names, which are either random or contain a specified word. Unfortunately, it also shows the domain names that are taken!
Sloganizer can help you come up with a tagline to go with your new name. Just enter your brand and watch the magic.
Sloganizer generates slogans based on a random set, so you should be careful before using them. Also, some of the generated lines are really funny. How about “Ooo La La, audiodorant!”?
A tough but important task
Choosing a great brand name is not an easy job, but it really matters in the long run.
Tools like these can be a big help when you get stuck.
What process did you follow to successfully name your brand? Did you use any of these tools to help you?
Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions about Naming Your Startup
What are some key factors to consider when naming my startup?
When naming your startup, it’s important to consider factors such as uniqueness, relevance, simplicity, and memorability. The name should be unique to avoid confusion with other businesses. It should be relevant to your business operations or values. Simplicity is key for easy recall and pronunciation. Lastly, a memorable name helps in building brand recognition.
How can I ensure the name I choose for my startup is unique?
You can ensure the uniqueness of your startup name by conducting a thorough online search. Check if the name is already in use by another company or if it’s trademarked. Tools like Namelix can help generate unique names based on your keywords.
What is the importance of a domain name for my startup?
A domain name is crucial as it’s your online address where customers can find you. It should ideally match your business name for consistency and easy searchability. Websites like Shopify offer business name generators that also check domain availability.
Can a business name be meaningless?
Yes, a business name can start out as meaningless. Some successful companies have names that were initially meaningless but gained significance over time due to their products, services, or branding. Novanym has a list of such businesses for reference.
How can I test the effectiveness of my startup name?
You can test the effectiveness of your startup name by getting feedback from potential customers, friends, and family. You can also use online tools that provide feedback on name recall, pronunciation, and initial impressions.
What are some tools I can use to generate a name for my startup?
There are several online tools available for generating startup names. These include Namelix, Shopify’s Business Name Generator, and others. These tools use algorithms to create unique and relevant names based on your input.
How important is it for my startup name to convey what my business does?
While it can be beneficial for your startup name to convey what your business does, it’s not a strict requirement. Some successful businesses have names that don’t directly relate to their operations but are memorable and unique.
Can I change my startup name if I find it’s not working?
Yes, it’s possible to change your startup name if you find it’s not effective. However, this should be done carefully as it can impact your branding and customer recognition.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when naming my startup?
Common mistakes to avoid include choosing a name that’s hard to pronounce or spell, too generic, already in use or trademarked, or doesn’t resonate with your target audience.
How can I protect my startup name?
You can protect your startup name by registering it as a trademark. This provides legal protection against its unauthorized use by other businesses.
Shaumik DaityariShaumik is a data analyst by day, and a comic book enthusiast by night (or maybe, he's Batman?) Shaumik has been writing tutorials and creating screencasts for over five years. When not working, he's busy automating mundane daily tasks through meticulously written scripts!
