Why are unique business name ideas important?

You have the perfect business idea; now, you need the ideal name to go with it. Choosing a company name can be daunting, especially when so much relies on it. Not only can it define your business, but it also creates an identity among the competition and can influence potential buyers. Your business name is the cornerstone of your trademark design, which means it can bring significant value to:

• A great first impression: Your company name is often your customers’, other business owners’, and investors’ first impression of your brand. The right name can help differentiate you from other like-minded companies. As a new startup, you want your company name to compel potential customers to notice you.
• Your business strategy and target audience: A business name can portray your business strategy. For example, banks typically want to communicate a conservative and prudent reputation, while advertising agencies would likely stick to fun and innovative names to help reinforce the values of their business.
• Sticky names: Sticky names are easy for potential customers or current clients to remember and share with their families and friends. They can also better attract media coverage. For example, many journalists prefer writing about business names that garner attention.
• Emotional connection: A unique name can help create an emotional connection with customers while establishing your business as an industry leader. Your company name is a basic description of what your company is about, from your products and services to your values, beliefs, and personality. Your name can strengthen customers’ thoughts about your organization by touching on their emotions.

Related: 10 Steps to Starting a Business

Considerations when choosing a business name

Brainstorming business names can feel overwhelming, especially with the pressure of creating something unique while developing the core operations of your business. Here are some things to consider when choosing a name:

• Brand awareness: A good company name typically reflects the type of products, services, or experiences you offer. Your name can influence how you market, interact with target audiences, and build brand recognition over time. While you can change your slogan, value proposition, and logo, changing your business name without losing the strength of your brand can be challenging. Names that can evolve with your long-term vision are typically the best options.
• Market competition: Consider analyzing similar products, services, and marketing materials in your industry to identify what makes them memorable. When you find the correlations, you can use the same strategies to make your brand unique and stand out in your market.
• Memorability: Being able to recall your company name can create a significant impact on how customers view your business. From your marketing funnel to attracting new customers and retaining loyal ones, these strategies all link to how well a potential customer remembers your name.
• Uniqueness: Customers generally won’t remember brands if they don’t have a distinct name. Effective branding involves setting yourself apart from competitors, often starting with a catchy business name that grabs customers’ attention.
• Clarity: The best business names typically don’t require much explanation. A clear, simple, and direct name adaptable to change is frequently more catchy and easier to remember. Names that directly reference specific products or services can limit your potential in the future. Before setting a name, evaluate it for company growth and entry into similar industries.
• Searchability: Many successful business names are easy to find. You can use domain name generators, SEO opportunities, and social media handles to make your business searchable.
• Availability: Besides legal risks, if another brand already carries the name you’re considering, it can confuse potential customers and damage your online reputation. The same applies to your domain name, which should also be memorable and easy to associate with your brand. When narrowing down your options, run the names through a domain name generator to check availability, then quickly claim the workable domain.

Read more: A Guide to Business Rules

How to brainstorm name ideas for your company

When brainstorming names for your business, seeking inspiration can help spark your imagination. Here are a few ways to bolster your creativity:

Generate keywords

Search for free keyword tools that can help inspire a unique business name. When you enter a keyword related to your brand into their search fields, they generate a list of other words related to it.

Read books

You can find inspiration in your favourite novels or even a dictionary. Flip through pages and note all the words that resonate with you, even if they aren’t directly related to your company.

Explore the past

Pandora’s Jewellery got its name from Greek mythology. So did Hermès. Your ancestral lineage, culture, and even mythology can help you find compelling sources for unique names.

Play with words

Fun wordplay games can help you form some original business names. Here are some examples that may inspire your creativity:

• Sole Man (shoe repairs)
• Melon Cauli (fruit and vegetable store)
• Sensibill (receipt management platforms)
• Spoon Me (ice cream brand)

Keep it simple

Avoid mashing up too many words to encompass all of your offerings. Instead, focus on creating a business name that makes people feel good and elicits positive vibes and emotions in you and your future clients or customers. Also, aim for easy spelling—this can be a significant advantage regarding having customers remember your company name, especially for repeat business and referrals.

Reflect on ideas

Challenge your initial ideas by asking yourself the following questions:

• Who is your target audience?
• How would you describe your brand to others?
• Are there certain feelings you want your name to evoke?
• Do specific adjectives come to mind when thinking about your business?
• Does your company do anything differently?

Answering these questions can help generate ideas you may not have considered otherwise.

Consider your offerings

Service-based businesses may consider using their offering in their name. An example for a marketing company could be, Scaling Upward Design. This name is still future-proof because even if you decide to add or remove services later, your main goal remains the same—to help businesses scale.

Make it user-friendly

Once you have a list of potential names, eliminate any that aren’t easy to say, spell, or type. Spelling is a weakness for many people, so choosing something that makes their life easier can help put your business ahead of the rest. When customers can’t find you, they may end up shopping from the competition.

Use creative restraints

Creative restraints are the limitations and requirements that need addressing before you can accomplish a goal. Some examples include limiting yourself to names with only one word or two syllables. This restraint can drive your brain to focus on punchier name ideas. Another example is using alliterative phrases—when first and last names start with the same sound (Squarespace, Hobby Lobby) or begin with verbs (Shopify, GoDaddy).

Future-proof your brand

Avoid company names that can sabotage future business growth. For example, if you currently specialize in women’s clothing but may add men’s and children’s clothing in the future, having a name like Wardrobes for Goddesses won’t be helpful. You can future-proof your company name by focusing on your story, values, and key differentiators rather than the product or service you offer.

Test names in different mediums

Putting your name ideas into action can help you decide if they fit your brand. For example, say them out loud in conversations, draft them in your email signature, and use them to create a logo design. Making them feel real can help you connect with them (or not).

Ask for feedback

Feedback from trusted family members or friends can be invaluable when deciding on a business name. You may want to re-think your options when you say a name, and they immediately respond with questions or a bewildered look.

Check the language translation

If you plan to scale your business globally, ensure your potential name translates effectively in different languages. The last thing you want is to name your brand after something disrespectful or demeaning.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions, or organizations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.