7. Use your own name
When thinking about being unique and true to your brand, what better way to do so than with your own name? By using your name as your business name, you are tying yourself to your company’s core competencies, therefore instilling confidence in your customers.
However, keep in mind that using your name as a business name implies that you are the face of your business, at least for a while, and you may eventually grow large enough to have an instantly recognizable name, such as McDonald’s.
Tip: If you decide to use your own name, make sure it’s easy to spell and pronounce— or try using a nickname if you have one. This will make it easier for future customers to look up your business later down the line.
8. Make use of acronyms and abbreviations
If you’re looking for an easy-to-remember and easy-to-pronounce name, an acronym or abbreviation might be best. This could be based on something meaningful like your initials, or even the city where you started your business. Or it could be based on what your business stands for. For example, the abbreviation for the makeup company MAC stands for “Makeup Art Cosmetics.”
Tip: Look at obvious words that describe your business and use that as an abbreviation, but make sure it’s one that’s catchy and not just a few jumbled letters put together.
9. Choose a compound name
If an abbreviation doesn’t make sense as a viable option, think about a compound name. These can either be words that you feel describe your business or have another meaning to you. Many businesses go this route when there is more than one co-owner or co-founder. Snapchat, PayPal, and DoorDash are all great examples of compound business names that demonstrate what the business is all about.
Tip: Make a list of words that describe your business, then try matching different pairs of words together to see if anything rolls off the tongue.
10. Consider a symbol
While considering small business names, it might be beneficial to draw inspiration from a symbol. Just like Apple has a very recognizable symbol attached to its name, you want your small business name to stand out beyond just the name itself.
Tip: Draft up a business logo to get a feel for how it would look on your website, business cards, storefront signage, and products. This will help you determine whether it would be something that catches a potential customer's eye and is recognizable.
11. Get creative with spelling
As an entrepreneur, you don't need to invent a whole new word to name your business—you can just change the spelling of an existing word. For instance, you can change the traditional spelling of a word, replace a letter with a number, or add or remove letters. Tweaking this just enough will catch a potential customer's attention.
Tip: Consider getting feedback from a few friends and family to ensure the tweaks in spelling are still easy to pronounce correctly.
12. Consider using foreign words
If nothing in the English language is feeling like a good fit for your brand name, consider using foreign words, but be sure to remain sensitive when choosing words outside of the English language. This can provide a catchy business name that remains memorable, plus it can make you stand out against your competitors. Just make sure that the name you choose makes sense for your type of business and the market you’re targeting, especially if you’re planning on growing your business.
Tip: No matter the language, your business name should still evoke some meaning, so make sure you’re choosing a word (or words) that align with your business values.
13. Look at other business names in your industry
Drawing inspiration from other businesses in your industry can help you land on a name of your own. Not only does it help you find what names to avoid, but it also helps you uncover creative industry trends and themes that you can incorporate into your name.
Tip: Try inputting “INDUSTRY business names” in Google, or utilize Google maps and other directories to find businesses to pull inspiration from.
14. Keep it simple
Sometimes, the best choice for a new business name is the most simplistic. This eliminates any confusion for your potential customers and makes your business clear to new customers. Even if you are explaining your offerings, remember to make it unforgettable so customers will ask for your business by name.
Tip: At the end of the day, a good business name is one that’s easy to find and remember, so keep searchability in mind when thinking of a creative name for your small business.
15. Use a business name generator
If all else fails and you’re feeling stuck, you can turn to an online business name generator to help you come up with some catchy business names. A few popular ones include:
Not only can tools like this spark some creative business name ideas, but they can also help eliminate some stress in the process.
Tip: Utilize these tools as a starting point to find a direction for your creative business name, then build off of the ideas to hone in on the perfect fit.
16. Watch it grow with you