Startup Naming Guide: How to Name Your Startup
You need a name that's available as a .com, scales beyond your first product, and doesn't sound like every other startup in your category. This guide covers the techniques that actually work for startups—not theory, actual methods used by companies that got funded and scaled.
The TL;DR
Startup naming needs: 1) Available .com domain (or affordable), 2) Scalability beyond your first product, 3) Techniques like portmanteau or compound naming (more likely to have domains), 4) Test with real people (can they spell/remember it?), 5) Secure everything fast (domain, social handles, trademark). That's it. Most startups skip steps 2, 4, and 5. Don't be most startups.
Why Startup Naming Matters
Startup naming isn't just brand naming. You've got constraints that established brands don't have. You need a .com that's available (or at least affordable). You need a name that scales beyond your first product. You need something investors will remember. And you need it fast, before someone else takes it.
Established brands can rebrand. They can buy expensive domains. They can pivot their name if it doesn't work. Startups? You get one shot. If you pick a name that boxes you in, you're stuck with it until you raise enough money to rebrand (which you probably won't). If you pick a name that's hard to remember, investors forget you. If you pick a name with no available domain, you're making your life harder for no reason.
Domain Availability Matters
The .com needs to be available or affordable. If it's not, you're starting with a disadvantage. You can use alternatives (.io, .co, .ai), but .com is still what people expect. Check availability before you commit.
Scalability is Critical
Your name needs to work beyond your first product. If you're a food delivery app today but want to expand to logistics, don't name yourself 'FoodDash.' Think bigger. Think scalable.
Investor Appeal
Investors see hundreds of pitches. 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 them to remember you.
Speed Matters
Good startup 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. Someone else won't.
Best Naming Techniques for Startups
Not all naming techniques work equally well for startups. Some are more likely to have available domains. Some scale better. Some are more memorable. Here are the techniques that actually work for startups, with examples from companies that got it right.
Acronymic Hybrids
Mix words and initials for modern identity.
Acronyms
Shorten a longer concept into memorable initials.
Amalgam (Portmanteau)
Blend two or more words or parts into one.
Rhyme / Alliteration
Use rhythm or repetition for recall.
Visual Metaphor
Name that instantly creates a picture in your head.
Stop guessing and start generating. Our naming tool uses 60+ proven techniques to give you actual startup name ideas, not more blank pages to stare at.
Generate Startup Names Now →Domain Availability & Considerations
Domain availability is non-negotiable for startups. Here's what you need to know.
.com is Still King
Yes, you can use .io, .co, .ai, or other TLDs. But .com is still what people expect. When someone hears your startup 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.
Check Social Handles Too
Your name needs to work on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, 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.
Trademark Availability
Check if the name is trademarked in your category. You don't want to build a 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.
Step-by-Step Startup Naming Process
Here's how to actually name your startup. Not just come up with ideas—actually pick a name that works.
Step 1: Define Your Startup's Vision
Know where you're going, not just where you are. Your name needs to scale beyond your first product. If you're a food delivery app today but want to expand to logistics, don't name yourself 'FoodDash.' Think bigger. Think scalable.
Ask yourself: What will this company be in 5 years? What products will you add? What markets will you enter? Your name needs to work for all of that, not just your first product.
Step 2: Choose Startup-Friendly Naming Techniques
Use techniques that work for startups: portmanteau (combining words), compound naming, evocative naming, or made-up words. These are more likely to have available domains and don't box you into one product.
Avoid overly descriptive names that limit your future options. "FoodDeliveryApp" works for a food delivery app, but what happens when you expand to groceries? Or logistics? Pick something that scales.
Step 3: Generate 50+ Name Options
Create a massive list. Don't filter too early. Use multiple techniques. Mix and match. The best startup 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.
Step 4: Check Domain Availability First
Before you fall in love with a name, check if the .com is available. 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 Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn handles are all taken, you've got a problem. Secure everything at once, or don't commit to the name.
Step 5: Test with Real People
Ask people outside your bubble. Can they spell it? Can they remember it? Do they know how to pronounce it? If your target 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.
Step 6: Secure Everything
Buy the domain. Secure social handles. Check trademark availability. Do this fast—good 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.
Common Startup Naming Mistakes
Most startups make the same naming mistakes. Here's how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: 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.
Mistake 2: Picking a Name That Doesn't Scale
You name yourself after your first product. Then you want to expand, but your name boxes you in. "FoodDash" works for food delivery, but what about groceries? Logistics? Pick a name that scales beyond your first product.
Mistake 3: Using Your Own Name
Unless you ARE the brand (consultant, personal trainer, artist), using your own name limits your options. It's harder to sell the company. It's harder to raise funding. It's harder to scale beyond yourself. Pick something else unless you're the differentiator.
Mistake 4: Not Testing with Real People
You pick a name you love. Your co-founder loves it. Your friends love it. But can your target audience spell it? Remember it? Pronounce it? Test with real people before you commit. If they can't say it, you've got a problem.
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 startup names get taken fast. If you find something that works, secure it immediately. Domain, social handles, trademark—do it all at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you name a startup?
Startup naming is different. You need a name that's available as a .com, scales beyond your first product, and doesn't sound like every other startup in your category. Use techniques like portmanteau, compound naming, or evocative naming. Generate 50+ options. Check domain availability first. Test with real people. Pick one that doesn't box you in.
What makes a good startup name?
Available as a .com (or at least affordable). Scalable beyond your first product. Doesn't sound like every other startup in your category. Memorable enough that investors remember it. Short enough to fit in a Twitter handle. That's the bar. Most startup names can't clear it.
Should I use my own name for my startup?
Maybe. If you're the brand (consultant, personal trainer, artist), your name works. If you want to sell the company later, raise funding, or expand beyond yourself, pick something else. Founder names work when the founder IS the differentiator. Otherwise, they're just ego that limits your options.
What naming techniques work best for startups?
Portmanteau (combining words), compound naming, evocative naming, and made-up words work well for startups. They're more likely to have available domains, they're memorable, and they don't box you into one product. Descriptive names can work but limit scalability. Founder names work if you're the brand.
How important is domain availability for startup names?
Very. If the .com isn't available or costs $50k+, you're making your life harder. You can use alternatives (.io, .co, .ai), but .com is still what people expect. Check domain availability before you fall in love with a name. Trust us—you don't want to negotiate with a domain squatter.
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