I've been at this for almost a week now. Word combos, portmanteaus, random syllable generators, checking domain availability, trademark databases... I have a spreadsheet with 200+ names and I hate all of them. Either the .com is taken by a squatter, or it sounds like a pharmaceutical, or someone on Reddit already made a joke about it. How do you know when a name is 'good enough' to just commit to? I'm losing my mind.
Naming
I spent days combining words to find a usable company name
200? That's cute. I hit 400 before I gave up and just used my dog's name. Now I'm stuck with a company that sounds like a golden retriever fan page.
Honestly the name matters way less than people think. As long as it's not offensive or impossible to spell, you can build a brand around anything. Look at 'Uber' – sounds like a German taxi app, but now it's a verb. Come up with something that doesn't actively make you cringe and move on.
The .com obsession is a trap.If it's a small business, nobody cares if you're on .co or getyournamehere.com. You're not Amazon. Save the stress and use a modifier.
Have you tried combining two random words that have nothing to do with with your business? That's how you get 'Twitter' and 'Airbnb'. I ended up with 'BlueChair' for my consulting gig. Clients don't ask, they just assume it means something deep.
BlueChair sounds like a furniture store or a depression medication. No offense.
None taken. It's memorable, which is the whole point.
I feel this in my soul.I spent two weeks checking trademarks only to realize I'd been misspelling my top pick the entire time. Sometimes the universe tells you to stop.
What's the business actually do? That might help narrow it down. Or not, since half the advice here is 'use your dog's name'.
It's a custom woodworking shop. I make furniture and small home goods. So I've been trying to avoid anything too corporate or techy. But 'SilentCactus Woodworks' is not it, promise.
See, that's actually useful. You don't need a 'tech' name. Just pick a surname that sounds crafty, like 'Miller & Oak' or 'Grain & Knot'. Even if it's not your actual name, it feels established. Nobody questihons it.
Or do the opposite and lean into a weird name. 'Suspicious Furniture' would get clicks. Probably not repeat clients though.
Just don't pick something you'll be embarrassed to say out loud in five years. And check if the social handles are free. That's the only practical advice I've got left.
I still think the dog name was the most honest answer here.