July 8, 2025

How To Choose a Business Name – An Expert Analysis

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

How To Choose a Business Name – An Expert Analysis

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To make their first dollar, most businesses have to settle on a name for their organization. Here’s how to choose a business name that will last you well into the future.

 

Before you’ve hired the accountant, bought the office chair or spent 20 bucks on some gold-plated business cards, you need a name for your business.

Get it right, and your business name will be an asset that will:

  1. Send out a clear message about your brand
  2. Be memorable – for all the right reasons
  3. Encourage customer loyalty
  4. Grow with you

Get it wrong, and you’ll be stuck with a name that could cost thousands or even millions to fix.

In this article, we’ll look at the elements of a great business name, the reasons why getting it right is worth so much effort, why buying a domain name for your new brand is essential – and more.

There are even links to a few tools you can use that will help you get your business name deliberations off to a strong start.

Why take my word for what makes a good business name? Because names have been my bread and butter for almost two decades. I help businesses buy premium domain names when they want to launch a new company or sub-brand.

When you oversee domain name transactions that sometimes run into six and seven figures, you get to see first hand just how valuable a great name is.

Key takeaways

  • A great business name will be an asset for years to come
  • Matching up your name, logo and brand identity requires serious attention
  • Choose between catchy or quirky
  • Make sure you can secure a domain name so your online customers can find you

 

Understanding the Importance of a Business Name

A great business name is essential for establishing your brand and attracting customers. It doesn’t always have to be serious (there’s a popular UK TV channel called ‘Dave’!), but it does have to make sense – usually.

For example, if you’re selling luxury hats, a name like Grabbing Monkey would be just plain weird. Likewise, a bargain grocery chain would be unlikely to call itself Sumptuoso. There’s a mismatch that is just confusing.

Your business name should convey the essence of what your company does and what sets you apart from competitors. The right name can evoke emotions, tell your story, and create a connection with your audience.

Conversely, a hurriedly chosen name can be confusing, forgettable, or even off-putting.

woman holding blank business card for blog about business names

 

What Makes a Good Business Name?

A good business name is memorable and easy to pronounce. Think of your international audience, too – French people, for example, struggle to make sense of LinkedIn, pronouncing it “lin-ked-een”.

Ideally, it should be relevant to your industry, distinctive enough to stand out – and yet simple enough to be easily understood. Consider the following when evaluating potential names:

  • Clarity: Does the name clearly convey what your business does?
  • Simplicity: Is it easy to spell and pronounce?
  • Uniqueness: Is it different enough from competitors’ names?
  • Relevance: Does it connect with your target audience?
  • Availability: Is the name available as a domain, social media handle, and trademark?

 

How to Come Up with a Business Name

Start with a Brainstorming Session

Begin by gathering your team for a brainstorming session. Promise a pizza break halfway through to make sure everyone is comfortable and keen to contribute. Try the following techniques to generate ideas:

  • Word Association: Jot down some words related to your business and see where your mind takes you.
  • Mind Mapping: Create a visual representation of ideas branching out from a central concept.
  • Abstract Thinking: Consider metaphorical or symbolic names that represent your brand values.

group brainstorming session denoting 'thinking time' when coming up with a business name

Use Name Generators for Inspiration

If you’re stuck, consider using an online name generator – Shopify has a free one, for example. Or try businessnamegenerator.com.

We asked the Shopify tool to come up with a name for a premium domain name brokerage brand and it suggested some pretty decent ones, including Brokera and Acquireo. These tools can provide creative suggestions and help you think laterally.

Consider Your Brand Identity

Your business name should align with your brand identity, which includes your mission, vision, and values. Actually pulling this off, however, is easier said than done!

The takeaway here is don’t choose a brand name that just feels wrong. Reflect on the qualities you want to communicate and how you want to be perceived by your audience. Are you aiming for a cute business name, a professional firm name, or something entirely unique?

Evaluate Your Options

Once you have a list of potential names, it’s time to evaluate them. The best way is to try them on 10 people and get them to score each one. Analyze each name based on the criteria we discussed earlier: clarity, simplicity, uniqueness, relevance, and availability. A winner should emerge.

man sitting alone on sofa typing into laptop

 

How to Choose a Business Name and Logo

Ensure Availability

Once you have a name you like… stop. Before you get locked into it, you need to check if it’s trademarked and that it’s available as a domain name. If the .com domain name you want has gone, think twice before settling for an inferior suffix such as .info. The .com domain name still reigns supreme.

If the .com you seek isn’t available, a domain name buy-side specialist such as NameExperts.com can explain the process and costs of trying to secure it. Names that have already been bought by someone are resold all the time.

Design a Complementary Logo

Once you’ve chosen a name, work with a designer to create a logo that complements your brand identity. The logo should reflect the essence of your business and be versatile enough to use across various platforms.

There are multiple free logo design tools to get you started, such as the aptly-named freelogodesign.org and Canva.

Test Your Name and Logo

Before making your final decision, test your name and logo on some friends – ideally the kind of people who could also be your customers. Gather feedback and make adjustments if necessary.

man staring at jumble of business names and notes on a board

 

Real-World Examples of Unique Company Names

Creative and Catchy Names

Here are some examples of businesses whose names seem perfect for their business:

  • Google: Derived from the mathematical term “googol,” which is a nod towards the vast amount of information the search engine can handle.
  • Etsy: This playful and unique name really stands out in the online marketplace space. It’s meaningless… but it works.
  • Zappos: A name inspired by the Spanish word “zapatos,” meaning shoes. Why? Because the company’s original focus was on footwear.

Unusual and Distinctive Names

For businesses looking to stand out with unusual names, take inspiration from these examples:

  • Slack: A messaging app that conveys ease of communication and collaboration.
  • Haagen-Dazs: A name that evokes a sense of luxury and indulgence – despite being a made-up word.
  • Kodak: An invented name that is easy to remember and pronounce, with no specific meaning.

 

Final Thoughts on Naming Your Business

Choosing the perfect name for your business is a big decision. Would McDonald’s have become the brand we know and love if had been called Macgillivray’s?

Would Amazon have been as successful if it had gone with another famous river, such as Thames?

Remember that your business name plays a major part in your brand identity and can have a lasting impact on your company’s success.

Whether you’re launching a startup, renaming an existing business, or just exploring ideas, take the time to choose a name that works today, tomorrow and well into the future.

And above all, choose a name that feels and sounds right.

Pick the right one, and your business will be off to a great start. And you’ll have a fighting chance of standing out in the marketplace for all the right reasons – as our client Monday.com did after a tactical rebrand.

Party/gathering of people at rebranded Monday.com, a client of domain name broker Name Experts

About the author

Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Contact us at: [email protected]

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Though the extensions can vary, we think it is useful to know the differences between the types of top-level domains available so that when it’s time to choose your domain name, you choose the right one. The two types we are going to talk about today are Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) and Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs). Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) Normally, the best course of action is to choose a reputable TLD like .com, .net, or .org. But because these are so popular, there are millions of domain names that have been registered to date. So the name you want might be taken (read our post: “How to buy a domain owned by someone else”) – or it may be hard to find a name that works. Here are some of the most generic TLDs: .com (commercial) .info (information) .org (organizational) .net (network) .biz (business) Sponsored Top-Level Domains (rTLDs) In addition to gTLDs, there are also some top level domains that are sponsored by organizations or agencies for very specific and often exclusive use. Here are some examples you’ll recognize: .gov (used by the US government) .edu (used by educational institutions) .int (used by international organizations) .mil (limited to US military entities only) Subdomains We thought we should also mention subdomains. A subdomain is also known as a third level domain and is an extra part of a domain name. They are viewed as separate websites by the search engines, so creating subdomains can help improve your site’s SEO. Specifically, a good time to use a subdomain is for a blog. It might look like https://blog.nameexperts.com.   How To Choose The Right Domain Name Now that we’ve answered what is a domain name, we want to help you choose a strong domain name that accurately reflects your business. Ideally, you want to be easy for your target market to remember and be something that is timeless. Your domain name broker can help you find the perfect domain name and get you started with the process that goes along with it. Begin by doing some research on keywords that are relevant for your business. Whether it’s the name of your business or another keyword that relates to your business and you want to rank for it, this type of domain name will help improve your site’s SEO (search engine optimization). Another tip is to keep your domain short and memorable. You want it to stand out but be easy to remember – try to keep it to three words or less. You also want to make sure you avoid numbers and hyphens. People won’t remember where they go and they might mistype. Which leads us into another tip for choosing your domain name, make sure it is easy to spell. Shy away from words with multiple spelling variations or one that might be difficult to pronounce. Think long term. You want a domain name that supports the growth of your business and will last for years to come. Changing your domain name later can really hurt your business.   Working With A Domain Name Broker – The Easy Solution Getting your domain name right is crucial for your business or organization. It can help define your brand and form a lasting impression on your audience. Do your research, and then if you’re serious about securing a seemingly unavailable name, reach out to a domain broker. We can help you buy and register a name – even if it belongs to someone else. We can also advise on strong alternative names for your business. NameExperts.com has a selection of highly commercial names available for sale at any time. At the time of writing, these included eight.com, proud.com, fate.com and nickel.com.   About the author Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Contact us at: [email protected]  

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