Naming Generator

Naming Generator

Generate names that are memorable, meaningful, and available. Good names don't just sound nice — they work as strategic assets.

Naming Dimensions

Every name sits on these spectrums. Clarify positioning before generating.

Descriptive ←————————→ Abstract
  "BookKeeper"              "Notion"

Serious ←————————→ Playful
  "Palantir"               "Slack"

Technical ←————————→ Human
  "PostgreSQL"             "Alexa"

Short ←————————→ Compound
  "Arc"                    "Masterclass"

Name Categories

1. Descriptive

Tells you what it does. Easy to understand, hard to trademark.

• Examples: YouTube, Facebook, WeChat, PayPal
• Best for: Features, internal tools, early-stage products
• Risk: Generic, forgettable, trademark conflicts

2. Metaphorical

Borrows meaning from another domain. Evocative and memorable.

• Examples: Amazon (vast), Apple (simple/fresh), Slack (ease), Notion (idea)
• Best for: Consumer brands, platforms
• Technique: Find a quality of your product → find objects/concepts that embody it

3. Invented

Made-up words. Unique and trademarkable, but require marketing investment.

• Examples: Spotify, Hulu, Figma, Vercel
• Best for: Companies, major products
• Techniques: Blend two words, modify spelling, combine Latin/Greek roots

4. Acronym

Initials or abbreviations. Professional but cold.

• Examples: IBM, AWS, HBO
• Best for: Enterprise, government, technical standards
• Rule: Only works if the full name is already known or irrelevant

5. Founder/Person

Named after a person. Builds personal brand.

• Examples: Tesla, Bloomberg, Dyson
• Best for: Luxury, personal brands, consulting
• Risk: Tied to one person's reputation

6. Portmanteau

Two words blended into one. Clever when done well, cringe when forced.

• Examples: Pinterest (pin + interest), Instagram (instant + telegram), Groupon (group + coupon)
• Best for: Consumer apps, social platforms
• Rule: Both source words should be recognizable

Evaluation Criteria

Score each name candidate on these dimensions:

Generation Process

Step 1: Define the Brief

• What is the product/company/feature?
• Who is the audience?
• What feeling should the name evoke?
• What names do competitors use? (to differentiate)
• Any constraints? (length, language, domain availability)

Step 2: Generate Candidates (aim for 20-30)

Technique 1: Word Association Start with core concepts → branch out 3 levels deep

Bookmark → Save → Vault → Haven
Bookmark → Navigate → Compass → North
Bookmark → Collect → Gather → Harvest

Technique 2: Thesaurus Mining Look up synonyms in multiple languages

"Fast" → Swift, Rapid, Presto (Italian), Hayai (Japanese), Veloz (Spanish)

Technique 3: Root Combination Combine Latin/Greek roots related to the concept

"Light" (lux/lumen) + "Path" (via/odos) → Luxvia, Luminos, Vianova

Technique 4: Metaphor Mapping Find objects that share a quality with your product

Quality: "Organizing chaos" → Compass, Lighthouse, Anchor, Prism, Lens

Technique 5: Sound Symbolism Certain sounds evoke certain feelings:

• Hard consonants (K, T, P) → Strong, decisive: Kodak, TikTok
• Soft consonants (S, L, M) → Smooth, gentle: Silk, Loom, Murmur
• Short vowels → Quick, snappy: Bit, Zip, Snap
• Long vowels → Expansive, premium: Bloom, Breeze, Gleam

Step 3: Filter and Rank

Apply evaluation criteria. Eliminate names that fail on any "High" weight criterion.

Step 4: Stress Test

For top 3-5 candidates:

• Say it in a sentence: "Have you tried [Name]?"
• Imagine the logo
• Check for unintended meanings in other languages
• Search for existing trademarks
• Check domain availability patterns (.com, .io, .co, .app)

Language Rules

• Match the language of the user's request by default
• If the user explicitly specifies a language (e.g., "in English", "用中文"), use that language for all output
• Keep proper nouns, brand names, and technical terms in their original language

Output Format

# Naming Options: [What We're Naming]

## Brief
- **Product**: [Description]
- **Audience**: [Who]
- **Feeling**: [What emotion/association]
- **Constraints**: [Any limits]

## Top Recommendations

### 1. [Name] ⭐
- **Category**: [Descriptive/Metaphorical/Invented/...]
- **Meaning**: [Why this name works]
- **Pronunciation**: [Phonetic guide if needed]
- **Domain ideas**: [name.com, getname.io, etc.]
- **Score**: Memorable ●●●●○ | Distinctive ●●●●● | Scalable ●●●○○

### 2. [Name]
...

### 3. [Name]
...

## Honorable Mentions
- [Name] — [One-line rationale]
- [Name] — [One-line rationale]
- [Name] — [One-line rationale]

## Names to Avoid
- [Name] — [Why it doesn't work]

Anti-Patterns

• Too clever — puns that require explanation
• Unpronounceable — consonant clusters nobody can say (Xlyph)
• Already taken — not checking existing trademarks
• Too narrow — "EmailSorter" when the product might expand beyond email
• Cultural blindness — not checking meanings in target markets
• Trend-chasing — adding "AI" or ".io" to everything

Quick Checklist

1. Does the name pass the "phone test"? (Can you say it over the phone and have someone spell it?)
2. Is it distinct from competitors?
3. Does it evoke the right feeling?
4. Will it still work in 5 years if the product evolves?
5. Have you checked for negative meanings in other languages?
6. Are reasonable domains available?