So in the Basic Stuff section, I’d like add point 10: Choose a name that can be trademarked. For example, if you’re selling apples (we’re not) and you choose “Juicy Apples” you’ll find your name is too generic to be trademarked.

If you’re building an empire you’ll sell one day, keep in mind that your future buyer would prefer your business and your products to have a trademarked names.

Regards!
Ammarah,

It was a really great article. Thanks a lot.

Andrei

There is NO chronological set of events that promise to lead you to naming perfection.
There is NO set of naming principles you must adhere to.

Nearly every case I deal with has its own set of requirements and idiosyncrasies. For example, consultants seem to prefer invented names while internet based retailers like the wacky stuff. And it really comes down to fitting names to their client, since after all, they are the ones that have to live with it. I also recommend names that are easy to say and spell and are meaningful. But there are exceptions. We named on benefits management company Liazon.com, because the invented/altered spelling was actually easier than the real one… liaison. So like any profession, naming requires knowing the general rules, but also knowing when to break them. And in the end, the company itself defines the names. Ruth Chris’s Steak House is a terrible tongue twister, but they serve a mean steak. So quite a number of companies succeed despite their name, not because of it.

For those interested, I’m offering free naming advice for the next two weeks in preparation of a new naming/branding show on VoiceAmerica.com. You can leave a question/comment at http://Blog.PureTungsten.com

Thanks!

Phil

Another great thesaurus tool I use is a compact-yet-cool desktop application called WordWeb.It’s shareware written and maintained by some bit jockeys at Princeton You can get in from WordWeb.info. Very powerful (much more so than the online tools).

One thing though remains unclear: How do you go about chosing the right one. My point is, that the techniques you present might let you come up with a bunch of appropriate names but does not guarantee that you pick the right one.

I believe the “right one” will not be found through these techniques, it just happens to fall in your lap by some lucky chance.

Matt B - I can do a separate post on how to check and register domains. The naming process (or at least writing about it) can get pretty long. So, I chose to focus on some things and not others. Usually though, my own naming experience finds me plugging in hundreds of combinations to godaddy and using My Tool (listed above, use ctrl F). I’ll think about how to go deeper into the topic for a future post.

DomainerPro - really good points. I disagree with the misspelling argument though, specifically because there are plenty of examples of successful domains/names that have made use of misspellings. You could say that both oddly spelled domains and made up words fall into this category also. Many times, neither of these are ‘obvious’ as to how to spell. Examples of successful sites using these abound also. The radio test is a good one, but as it’s evidently not fullproof, I take it with a grain of salt.

LivingHalal - my wife actually came up with the name Halfagain because for some reason, it popped up in our conversations a lot. Another odd fact, I see the time 12:34 on my clock more than any other :).

Travis - Thanks!

Tiffany - you’re going to hate this answer, but I think it’s 6 to 1, half a dozen to the other. Affiliating your name with a brand you create lends power to both, but working it oppositely does the same. One thing that must be said though, is that blog’s carry “personal” weight. So, if you do brand your blog with a different name than your own, it’s important to give the blog a personality (your own is a good place to start).

Melanie - yep, as with anything, it’s easier to talk about than to do. Good luck!

9. Make sure the domain is either available or purchasable in the aftermarket. Use your favorite registrar OR use a bulk domain checker (I’ve outlined one below).

But I don’t see any further mention of registrars or domain name checkers. What did I miss?

gràcies,
Matt