30+ Resources to Help You Name Your Startup and Domain Name
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...I’ve been working on some new websites for awhile now and I have amassed a list of resources that were pretty helpful in coming up with things like domain names and just general brainstorming around company names. We all want a really cool name for our startups and websites… Right? A name that stands out, is easy to spell, easy to remember etc. Coming up with a name/domain name combination can be tricky, since seemingly every good name is taken. For me it is usually just an issue of getting my creative juices going, so here are some really good sites to help find a good name for you website or company.
My Number 1 Tool
Before I get into all the web 2.0 name generators, I have to say that my favorite tool, by far, is:
The easiest thing you can do is start off with a defining word, something that encapsulates everything your startup or website stands for, enter it into thesaurus.com, and you are off. You can easily begin blending and discovering new and interesting names. Their word of the day feature can also be very helpful.
Name Generators
1. The Web 2.0 Web Generator - Click a button, get a name. The lazy man’s solution. There are actually some really good names in there.
2. Bust A Name - Give Bust A Name a handful of words and watch this AJAX machine go to work! From a usability perspective, Bust A Name is fantastic. Easily and quickly add and remove words, save domain names you like. Very Cool!
3. Dotomator - Looking to do a little bit of work? Give dotomator a list of prefix words and a list of suffix words and let it mash them up, all combinations spit out.
4. Kessels Name Generator - Random names are generated based on “languages” such as Elven, Dwaven and Ork.
5. Web 2.0 Name Generator - Pretty cool. Enter a ton of keywords and it will generate a single name for you.
6. High-Tech Company Name Generator - Give them your actual name and profession and names will be generated based on that.
7. NOEMATA Name Generator - Lists random names on each page refresh.
8. Web Two Point Oh! - Random names and product generation. I believe these are based on existing web 2.0 companies.
Domain Name Generators
9. SnapItNow - Pretty flexible tool for finding a good, available domain name. I’ve gotten some good suggestions with this tool.
10. Nameboy - Limited, but still may be useful to you.
11. Webmaster-Toolkit’s Domain Name Generator - Enter a single word or phrase.
12. ICDomains Domain Name Generator - This one actually sucks. Don’t bother.
13. Hack/ DMG - 15 random new names on each click.
14. MakeWords - Ok. Spits back some pretty vanilla suggestions.
15. Name Generator - Takes 3 keywords and hands out variations on those words.
General Name Generators
Here are a few name builders that could really belong to either header, or may be good for developing product names.
16. Wordlab Name Builder - Generates recognizable, 2-4 syllable words.
17. Drug-O-Matic - Geared to generating pharmaceutical names, but some of the names I found were pretty good.
18. Name Your Band - Ok, so it is for naming bands, but still useful when in the brainstorming process.
19. Morpheme Machine
A morpheme is a meaningful linguistic unit consisting of a word or word element that cannot be divided into smaller meaningful parts, and we cram them together in over 151,000 ways in our little machine. - wordlad.com
20. ACME Namemaker - “Here are over 26,000 ways to blend in quite nicely.”
21. Hobbit Name Generator - Just for kicks.
Some thoughts on naming your startup or domain name
While some people think that a name really does matters much, I think there is a good degree of importance, in a name, but not only for the names sake alone, but the process you go through when developing a name. I know I usually over think names for new domains I am launching instead of spending time on actually building my site. But there are implications, ideas and worldviews that can easily be attached to your company name and domain name, all to your benefit.
A good example may be YouTube. I know several people who hate the name and felt it would really hurt them in the long run, back when they first launched. This obviously did not hurt them. In fact, the name probably really helped them.
22. Make it short and sweet - The shorter the domain name, the better for a few reasons. For one it means there is less to type into the address line of a browser. It’s quick to get to. It is that much easier to remember. Low syllable words are easy to verbally express to others. Which overlaps into the next suggestion.
23. Use recognizable words - When you use a made up word, it makes it that much harder to remember, spell and pronounce. Which, of course means that your name recognition will not spread as quickly. Make things easy on your visitors by giving them words they are use to, it does not matter if they are funny combinations.
24. Spell it like it sounds - Google looks right, but it’s not. Squidoo is another good example, I think. It is a made up word, but it is spelled just the way it is pronounced. So using a funny or made up word can be redeemed if it can easily be spelled - As long as the pronunciation is easy as well.
25. Don’t use a temporary name - I have made this mistake and even Seth Godin recommends against it. What ends up happening is you throw up a “filler” name onto your prototype website, something quick and easy. But as you begin to build your website around this temporary name, you begin to identify with it, and even like it. The problem is that it really is not a name that fits with what you are doing, but it has grown on you so much that you can’t leave it behind. So you either stick with it, if it is a name that has not been registered, or you begin looking for names that revolve around your temporary name.
26. Have fun with it, push the envelope - Don’t be afraid to really push your name to the edge, explore “controversial” words or ideas that are fun. When you really push your thought process, you will actually help come to a better understanding of your company or website.
Still need some more help?
If you want to move past the “generators”, here are some articles that give advice and tactics on developing a name on your own.
27. How to name your company (ThinkVitamin.com) - Great article on all aspects of naming your company. From delegating the task itself to the brainstorming process.
28. Yudkin/generate.html - This is a guided step process that will help you get the creative juices flowing.
29. How to create a company name or slogan (The link is to the Yahoo Cache. PDF is here: company name or slogan) - Tips geared more towards picking the RIGHT words for your company or slogan.
30. 7 Secrets to Good Brainstorming (FastCompany.com) - Some great tips on brainstorming in general. This is often the root of the problem.
31. Choosing a Company Name (SideRoad.com) - Discusses the implications of the names you choose and how to work from that perspective to develop a name.
Company List
Sometimes it helps just to browse and read about current companies to get you thinking about different ways others have developed their brand and name.
32. List of Company Name Etymologies (Wikipedia.com) - A massive list of company names and their origins.
33. TechCrunch Company Index (TechCrunch.com) - Lists all the companies they TechCrunch has profiled. The majority are web 2.0.
34. Mashable’s The Social Network Grid (Mashable.com) - Not a comprehensive list, since it serves a different purpose, but useful none the less. Especially since you can filter by company type.
Just do it for me… Companies that will, that is
Don’t want the headache of trying to come up with a name. There are plenty of companies that will help, for a fee of course. (Names + Their Tagline)
Brains on Fire - We help companies create and sustain excitement about who they are and why they are here.
IgorInternational.com - The best product and company names require the least advertising.
A Hundred Monkeys - Naming a company? You need a lot more than a naming company.
Jell Creative - Plain talk. Clear thinking. Relentless energy. A sense of humor and humility. Sound good? Then we’re a match
Moveo Integrated Branding - Movéo drives business results by helping organizations build brands and then delivers cross-media solutions to enhance them.
That is all I have. If you know of other branding companies, please let me know in the comments section below.
Above all, create a kick ass website
When all is said and done, build a killer app that you truly want to use, and things will fall into place much easier.
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