When starting a business, finding a great name for it can be tricky, which is why we created a list of 11 ways to come up with a cool catchy creative business name.
What’s in a name? Everything when it comes to growing your business. Especially in the beginning, having a great title is of utmost importance. How will your audience find you? Your name. How will they define you? Your name. How will they decide to become a customer? Your name.
Your business name also has to be a number of things (not to mention cool, catchy and creative). It has to be attractive. It has to be pleasant. It has to be professional. It has to be unique. It has to be timeless. It has to be you.
But because this aspect is so pivotal, it’s also a cause of great stress for many startups. And there’s nothing worse than having the most brilliant business model in your head but having no idea what to call it.
If you’re an investment company, check out 43 Good Names for Investment Companies: Use Our Generator. But if not, take heart and keep reading.
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Steve Jobs named his company Apple after he had just returned from an apple farm. Facebook was originally called the facebook. Amazon was named partly for its alphabetical preeminence. Visa is just an acronym for Visa International Service Association.
What do the M’s in M ‘n M’s stand for? Mars and Murrie, its founders. Hallmark is named after the English hallmark symbol used by 14th-century goldsmiths. A man named Walgreen founded Walgreens.
As you can see, sometimes a business name is as simple as its founder’s name. Sometimes it’s just a catchy acronym. And sometimes it’s an exotic fourteenth-century symbol. But finding what’s right for you may be the hardest part.
To come up with our list of ways to come up with a cool catchy creative business name, we consulted well-known and knowledgeable business oriented companies like Forbes, Business Insider, The Balance, Entrepreneur, Inc, to name a few. What they have to say about naming a business makes a lot of sense, and will no doubt ease your mind if you’re out of ideas.
And you won’t have to worry that they don’t have experience; they know all the ins and outs of starting and continuing to grow a successful business. Many examples of other soaring business successes are used several times throughout the article as well, so you can learn from the pros.
So pay close attention to the advice in 11 ways to come up with a cool catchy creative business name, and before you know it, you’ll have made your first sale.
11. Treat Your Business Like a Child
The Balance advises one to “name your business with as much thought as you would name a child.” After all, it is your baby. And don’t make your child grow up to hate you for what you named them, either.
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10. Consider International Meaning
If using a slightly uncommon word or phrase, be sure to check the meanings of it in all languages so as not to unintentionally offend, says Business Insider. But before selecting a business name like this, read number five on our list of 11 ways to come up with a cool catchy creative business name.
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9. Ensure Availability
Just because you think it’s a good name doesn’t mean it’s an original one or that it’s open. Since website domain names are often the same as the business, ensure the name of your business is also an open domain name. You also wouldn’t want to take the name of another well-known business in case your audience gets confused.
8. Be a .com
And speaking of domains, Business Insider advises purchasing the .com rather than .net .info or others. Since .com is the most common, customers will automatically assume that’s your handle. It’s okay to buy other handles along with .com, but avoid buying only those. Now, let’s see what’s next on our list of ways to come up with a cool catchy creative business name.
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7. Don’t Go Alone
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or opinions from your target audience. Once you choose what you think it is a good name, it can be hard to consider anything else, but make sure you’ve truly weighed the options and found the best one, and keep an open mind if not. Entrepreneur said this is a great idea.
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6. Think Big
“Amazon, for example, chose a name that connotes massive growth and all-encompassing. Quicksprout [additionally] suggests rapid growth,” advises INC.
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5. Keep it Simple
Using complicated or drawn out words or phrases just confuses your audience. When choosing a title for your business, always make sure it’s easy to remember and easy to spell, says Business Insider.
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4. But Not Too Simple
While it may be wise to think of a simple business name, don’t oversimplify either, according to Entrepreneur. If you do, your company’s purpose may be too vague and therefore uninteresting. (Though there are some exceptions like Sony and Apple.) Plus, Business Insider says this may box you in in case you expand your services later on. Give a slight hint as to your mission through your title, and you’ve found a happy medium.
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3. Use Catchphrases to Elaborate
If your mission statement is still too difficult to discover through your business name, try explaining further in a catchphrase. Small Business uses the example: “Fido’s Shower: Grooming for Both Dogs and Cats.”
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2. Use Modern Technology to Your Advantage
The Balance advises finding a business name that will rank high in SEO or search engine optimization. Rather than making sure your name begins with an A so you appear first in phone books and directories, ensure that you “get your business to show up in a search engine query” and “use SEO techniques when building your website or blog.” This company also advises making sure your acronyms are appropriate as well. A name like “Awesome Sewing Services” may put you in a real bind.
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1. Brainstorm 10 Ideas a Day
Lastly, Fit Small Business recommends this tip if you’re still stumped. Brainstorm many ideas for a business name per day, then eliminate those that don’t follow all of the rules above. You’ll be left with the obvious choice eventually.
Forbes agrees: “The best way to come up with a great name often involves first coming up with a great number of bad names,” Steve Cecil, who has been naming businesses since 2001, said. “You have to work through the first couple (hundred) obvious ideas before you get to the brilliant-but-not-obvious connections that are truly memorable and marketable.”
Now that you’ve read 11 ways to come up with a cool catchy creative business name, it’s time to get started.
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