Most new tech and startup names follow a handful of patterns: an invented word (Kodak), a blend of two words (Pinterest), a trendy ending (Shopify, Calendly) or a plain word used boldly (Slack). This company name generator makes names in each of those styles, 1,267 in all, so you can see which shape suits your company before you check it is free to register.
The five shapes of a startup name
- Invented words mean nothing until you make them mean something. George Eastman made up Kodak because he liked the letter K: strong and hard to mistake.
- Blends join two words into one: Pinterest (pin + interest), Microsoft (microcomputer + software).
- Coined endings turn a word into a name: Shopify, Calendly. The -ify, -ly and -io endings say "tech company" straight away.
- Word + ending pairs a plain word with a building-block word: GitHub, HubSpot. Easy to say, and it hints at what you do.
- Real words used boldly: Slack, Apple, Amazon. Memorable, but the hardest to get as a domain or trade mark.
Choosing a style
Each shape trades memorability against availability:
- Invented words are the easiest to register and to get a domain for, and the hardest for people to remember at first.
- Real words and two-word names stick in the mind, but someone has almost always registered them somewhere, so check carefully.
- Blends, coined endings and word + ending sit in the middle: familiar parts, new whole.
- Trend check: -ify and -ly names date to particular waves of startups. That can be a plus (it signals "software") or a minus (it can look dated in ten years).
Say it, spell it, search it
- Say it to someone and ask them to type it. If they can't spell it from hearing it, investors, customers and journalists won't either.
- Spell it as a domain: is the .com (or your country's domain) free, or a sensible variation?
- Search it: look it up on the company register (Companies House in the UK, your state's register in the US) and the trade mark databases (UK IPO, USPTO, EUIPO) for your field. The Business Name Generator page goes through these checks step by step.
None of this is legal advice; if the name will carry real investment, a trade mark attorney can check it properly.