Personal Brand Naming Guide: How to Name Your Personal Brand
You're building a personal brand in a world where everyone has one. You need a name that's authentic, available as a .com, and doesn't sound like every other consultant or coach. This guide covers the techniques that actually work for personal brands—not theory, actual methods used by people who built real followings.
The TL;DR
Personal brand naming needs: 1) Available .com domain (non-negotiable), 2) Build authenticity and personal connection (people buy from people they trust), 3) Techniques like descriptive or evocative naming (show who you are), 4) Work across platforms (social media, website, email), 5) Secure everything fast (domain, social handles, trademark). That's it. Most personal brands skip steps 2, 4, and 5. Don't be most personal brands.
Best Naming Techniques for Personal Brands
Not all naming techniques work equally well for personal brands. Some help you show authenticity. Some are more likely to have available domains. Some create personal connections better. Here are the techniques that actually work for personal brands, with examples from people who got it right.
Descriptive names (names that describe what you do like Marie Forleo, Tim Ferriss) work when you want clarity and authenticity. Evocative names (names that make you feel something like Gary Vaynerchuk, Brene Brown) create emotional connections and show personality. Portmanteau names (combining words like Pat Flynn, Amy Porterfield) blend your name with your expertise. Compound names (combining words like Neil Patel, Rand Fishkin) build recognition through familiarity. Alliteration (repeating sounds like Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey) makes names stick in people's heads.
Avoid generic terms like 'coach,' 'consultant,' or 'expert' unless you have a strong reason. These words don't show personality—they show conformity. Everyone uses them. If you use them too, you're blending in. Stand out. Be different. Your name is free differentiation—use it.
Why Personal Brand Naming Matters
Personal brand naming isn't just brand naming. You've got constraints that company brands don't have. You need a name that feels authentic when people want to connect with YOU. You need something that works across platforms when you're building on social media, a website, and email. You need a name that scales when you might expand beyond your first offering. And you need it fast, before someone else takes it.
Company brands can rely on their product. They can rely on their team. They can rely on their marketing budget. Personal brands? You get one shot to make an impression. If you pick a name that doesn't feel authentic, you're starting with a disadvantage. If you pick a name that's hard to remember, people forget you. If you pick a name with no available domain, you're making your life harder for no reason.
People see hundreds of personal brands. A memorable name helps you stand out. A forgettable one means you blend in. This isn't vanity—it's practical. Make it easy for people to remember you. Make it easy for them to find you again. That's how you build a following. That's how you build a personal brand.
Generic names = generic personal brands. If your name could work for any consultant or coach, it won't work for yours. Be specific. Be different. That's how you get noticed in crowded categories. That's how you build authenticity when everyone sounds the same.
Domain Availability & Considerations
Domain availability is non-negotiable for personal brands. Here's what you need to know.
.com is still king. Yes, you can use .coach, .consulting, or other TLDs. But .com is still what people expect. When someone hears your personal brand name, they'll type yourname.com. If that doesn't work, you're making your life harder. Check .com availability first. If it's not available or costs $50k+, move on. Don't negotiate with domain squatters—just pick something else.
Check social handles too. Your name needs to work on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok. If all the handles are taken, you've got a problem. Check social handle availability at the same time you check domain availability. Don't commit to a name until you've secured both. Social media is where personal brands grow. If you can't get the handles, you're starting with a disadvantage.
Trademark availability matters. Check if the name is trademarked in your category. You don't want to build a personal brand around a name you can't legally use. Do a basic trademark search before you commit. If there's a conflict, pick something else. It's easier to change now than after you've built a brand. It's easier to change now than after you've built a following.
Step-by-Step Personal Brand Naming Process
Here's how to actually name your personal brand. Not just come up with ideas—actually pick a name that works.
Step 1: Define Your Personal Brand's Identity
Know who you are, not just what you do. Your name needs to feel authentic when people want to connect with YOU. Are you a coach? Consultant? Creator? Expert? Your name should reflect that. Look at your competitors. What do their names sound like? If they all sound the same, pick something different. If they're all generic, pick something with personality. Stand out, don't blend in. Research your category. See what works. See what doesn't. Then do something different.
Step 2: Choose Personal Brand-Friendly Techniques
Use techniques that work for personal brands: descriptive naming, evocative naming, portmanteau, or compound naming. These are more likely to have available domains and help you show authenticity. Avoid generic terms like 'coach,' 'consultant,' or 'expert' unless you have a strong reason. Descriptive names can work, but they're also generic and hard to trademark. They work for established categories, but they don't help you stand out. If you're in a crowded category, pick something more distinctive. If you're creating a new category, descriptive can work.
Step 3: Generate 50+ Name Options
Create a massive list. Don't filter too early. Use multiple techniques. Mix and match. The best personal brand names come from quantity, not early filtering. Generate way more than you think you need. Most will be bad. That's fine. You only need one good one. But you won't find it if you stop at 10 options. Use our naming tool. Use brainstorming sessions. Use word combinations. Use everything. Then filter.
Step 4: Check Domain Availability First
Before you fall in love with a name, check if the .com is available. Personal brands live online—domain availability is non-negotiable. If it's not available or costs $50k+, move on. Don't negotiate with domain squatters—just pick something else. Check social handles at the same time. If Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter handles are all taken, you've got a problem. Secure everything at once, or don't commit to the name. Don't fall in love with a name you can't have.
Step 5: Test with Your Target Audience
Ask people in your target market. Can they spell it? Can they remember it? Do they know how to pronounce it? If your audience can't say it, you've got a problem. Test before you commit. Show people your top 5 names. See which ones they remember. See which ones they can spell. The name that passes these tests is the one you want. Don't test with your friends. Test with real audience members. Test with people who don't know you. That's how you get honest feedback.
Step 6: Secure Everything
Buy the domain. Secure social handles. Check trademark availability. Do this fast—good personal brand names get taken quickly. If you wait, someone else will grab it. Move fast, but not so fast that you skip the checks. Domain, social handles, trademark—do it all at once. Then you're done. Don't wait. Don't think about it. If you found something that works, secure it immediately. Good names don't wait.
Common Personal Brand Naming Mistakes
Most personal brands make the same naming mistakes. Here's how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Using Generic Terms
Every personal brand uses 'coach,' 'consultant,' or 'expert.' If you do that too, you're blending in. Stand out. Be different. Your name is free differentiation—use it. Don't follow the crowd unless you have a strong reason. Generic terms don't show personality—they show conformity. Everyone uses them. If you use them too, you're just another personal brand in a sea of personal brands.
Mistake 2: Not Checking Domain Availability
You fall in love with a name. You tell everyone about it. Then you check the domain and it's taken or costs $50k. Don't do this. Check domain availability first, before you commit. It's the easiest mistake to avoid. Don't fall in love with a name you can't have. Check availability before you get attached.
Mistake 3: Picking a Name That Doesn't Feel Authentic
You pick a name that sounds like every other personal brand in your category. Then you wonder why nobody connects with you. Stand out. Be different. Your name is free differentiation—use it. Don't blend in. If your name could work for any personal brand, it won't work for yours. Be specific. Be memorable. Be different.
Mistake 4: Not Testing with Real Audience
You pick a name you love. Your friends love it. But can your audience spell it? Remember it? Pronounce it? Test with real audience members before you commit. If they can't say it, you've got a problem. Don't test with your friends. Don't test with your family. Test with real audience members. That's how you get honest feedback. That's how you find out if your name actually works.
Mistake 5: Waiting Too Long to Secure
You find the perfect name. You love it. But you wait a week to buy the domain. By the time you check, it's gone. Good personal brand names get taken fast. If you find something that works, secure it immediately. Domain, social handles, trademark—do it all at once. Don't wait. Don't think about it. Good names don't wait. Someone else will grab it if you don't.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you name a personal brand?
Personal brand naming needs to be memorable, available as a .com, and feel authentic. Use techniques like descriptive naming, evocative naming, or portmanteau. Avoid generic terms like 'coach' or 'consultant' unless you have a strong reason. Generate 50+ options. Check domain availability. Test with your target audience. Pick one that stands out and feels authentic.
What makes a good personal brand name?
Memorable enough that people remember it after seeing it once. Available as a .com (or affordable). Feels authentic and shows personality. Short enough to fit in email signatures and URLs. Pronounceable without explanation. Works across social media platforms. That's the bar. Most personal brand names can't clear it.
Should personal brands use descriptive names?
Maybe, but be careful. Descriptive names like 'Marketing Coach' tell people what you do, but they're also generic and hard to trademark. They work for established categories, but they don't help you stand out. If you're in a crowded category, pick something more distinctive. If you're creating a new category, descriptive can work.
What naming techniques work best for personal brands?
Descriptive naming (names that describe what you do), evocative naming (names that make you feel something), portmanteau (combining words), compound naming (combining words), and alliteration work well for personal brands. They're more likely to have available domains, they're memorable, and they help you show authenticity. Avoid generic terms unless you have a strong reason—they make you blend in.
How important is domain availability for personal brands?
Critical. Personal brands live online. If the .com isn't available or costs $50k+, you're making your life harder. You can use alternatives (.coach, .consulting, .me), but .com is still what people expect. Check domain availability before you commit. Don't negotiate with domain squatters—just pick something else.
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