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To name a product, write what the name must do, choose a naming style, shortlist three to five names, check trademark and domain, then test the shortlist with customers. The Business Name Generator produces the candidates for the naming-style step.
Step 1. Define what your product name has to do
Write the product, the customer and the promise in one sentence each. A name that cannot be traced back to those three sentences is decoration.
Then decide where the product sits. A standalone brand can be more distinctive, because it carries no history. A product under an existing company or product line should follow the pattern of its siblings, so customers see the family.
Set the tone as well: serious, friendly, playful or technical. Write down the criteria every candidate must meet:
- It fits the promise you wrote.
- People can say it and spell it after hearing it once.
- It is easy to remember.
- It leaves room for the features and markets on your roadmap.
- It looks and sounds different from the competitors your customer compares you with.
Step 2. Choose a product naming style and generate candidates
Naming styles are different ways of building a word from your product's idea. These are the six the Business Name Generator uses:
| Style | What it is | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Duo | Combination of two relevant words | You want the name to hint at what the product does |
| Blended | Merge of two relevant words | You want a short, single-word brand with a clear root |
| Suffix | Relevant word with a twist | You want a familiar word that still reads as a brand |
| Misspelled | Relevant word with a cute mistake | The plain word is taken and a playful tone suits the product |
| Object | Relevant word and a memorable detail | You want a name customers can picture |
| New | Imaginary word that sounds nice | The product will grow beyond its first use and needs a name with no baggage |
To generate candidates:
- Open the Business Name Generator.
- Enter a business description. Write the product in one plain sentence.
- Enter a target audience and choose a language.
- Run it. The result is 48 names grouped into the six styles.
Building an app? The App Name Generator works the same way. Treat the output as prompts: combine parts of different names, drop what feels wrong and edit the rest.
Step 3. Build a shortlist of three to five names
Cut the list to three to five names that pass your Step 1 criteria. Then run each one through the same tests:
- Say it aloud inside a sentence, as a customer would when recommending the product.
- Ask someone to spell it after hearing it once.
- Check what it means, or sounds like, in every language of the markets you sell in.
- Compare it with the names of your competitors. If you do not have that list yet, the Competitor Finder returns competitor websites from a business description.
- Come back the next day and see which names you still remember.
For more naming patterns, browse business name examples.
Step 4. Check trademark and domain before you commit
These are separate checks. Passing one says nothing about the others.
- Trademark: search the WIPO Global Brand Database. It covers international trademarks under the Madrid System and trademarks from participating national and regional offices. Also search the register of the trademark office in each market you sell in. If you find a conflict or are unsure, ask a qualified trademark attorney.
- Domain: check the exact name through a domain registrar.
- Handles and stores: check the social media handles and, for an app, the app store listings.
Record the exact spelling you searched and the date. A near-match in the same field is a reason to pick another finalist.
Step 5. Test the shortlist with customers
Show each name on its own to five to eight people from your target audience. Do not explain it first.
- Ask what they think the product does.
- Ask them to spell it after hearing it.
- Ask them the next day which name they remember.
Choose the name where the meaning people infer matches your promise. If the name they remember is not the one they understood, keep the one they understood and test again with a new shortlist.
Product naming mistakes to avoid
- A name too narrow for the roadmap. A name tied to one feature becomes wrong when the product grows.
- A name that is hard to spell. People who cannot spell it cannot search for it.
- A name too close to a competitor. Customers mix you up, and a trademark conflict becomes more likely.
- Skipping the checks. Finding a conflict after launch means renaming materials, pages and listings.
Once the name is chosen, write a slogan that backs it, define the value proposition it points to, and follow how to market a new product for the launch. For the company name rather than the product name, see how to create a business name. You can keep shaping the message with [FounderPal](/).
FAQ
How do you name a new product?
Write what the name must do, choose a naming style, and generate a long list of candidates. Cut it to three to five names, check trademark and domain, then show the shortlist to people from your target audience.
What makes a good product name?
A good product name fits the promise, is easy to say and spell, and is easy to remember. It leaves room for the roadmap and looks different from competitor names.
Should a product name include the company name?
It depends on the brand structure. A product that sits under a company or product line should follow that family pattern. A standalone product can use its own name when it needs to be more distinctive or will be sold separately.
How do I check if a product name is already taken?
Search the WIPO Global Brand Database and the trademark register of each market where you sell. Then check the domain, social handles and app store separately. If you find a conflict or are unsure, ask a qualified trademark attorney.