Got a great idea but stuck trying to figure out how to name it? It’s OK, we’ve all been there. Your ideal name has already been taken and the domain name is no longer available. It’s time to get creative. Let’s talk startup names and go over a few tools that will jog your creative brain.
Coming up With a Great Name
Shopify Business Name Generator
https://www.shopify.com/tools/business-name-generator
Use this tool if you’re looking for a plain-English kind of name. The tool works by adding a word to the beginning or end of a keyword. The names it generates will never be “Google” or “Twitter” but instead will be along the lines of “Search Online” or “Right Tweet”.
Wordoid
http://wordoid.com
This is a great tool for creating unique brand names (like “Google” or “Twitter”). With this tool, enter your keyword and it will create word-like nonsense. For example, “searchy”, “impressearch”, or “searchaser”.
Dotomator
https://www.dotomator.com/web20.html
This is an extremely simple tool. You can’t enter any keywords, instead you just hit “Generate” and the tool spits out a cool word. I love this for its simplicity and ability to get you thinking outside the box. If you’re stuck, this may be the tool that unsticks you.
Namium
http://www.naminum.com
If you used the above tools, but everything is already registered, Namium will help you find subtle variations that you can still register.
Dock Name
http://dockname.com
Dock name lets you pay others for their ingenuity. Tell its users what kind of name you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend. Then, sit back as creative folks the world over start thinking of cool names.
BrandBucket
https://www.brandbucket.com
The most expensive option on this list by far, BrandBucket is a collection of premium brand names, guaranteed available. The names are often high-quality—“searchcart”, “searchbird”—but that quality comes at a price. Expect to pay at least $1000 for a name.
Now… Is it Available?
Domainr
https://domainr.com/
If there’s a better tool for checking available domain names, I haven’t found it. Domainr does one thing, and does it extremely well. It’s fast, light, and both ad and pop up free.
Namechk
https://namechk.com/
Now that you have a great domain name locked down, make sure you can register your name across the most popular social networks. Namechk works quickly and is a joy to use (there’s such a wonderful feeling when you see all those social networks light up as available).
Trademarkia
www.trademarkia.com/
All set on social? Use Trademarkia to make your name legal. Use this tool to search for registered trademarks under your new startup’s name. While these days it’s rare for something to be trademarked and not b a registered .com, this is still a good final step.
What Did I Miss?
What else do you need? Is there a tool you would have like to see on here? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll add it to the list.
