How to Name Your Start-up – 4 Things You Need to Know

What’s in a name? When it comes to the name of your start-up, a lot. The name of your start-up should reflect your creativity and character. When naming your start-up, here are 4 things to consider.

1. Length Matters – Business names with too many syllables can be difficult for potential customers to remember. An article on Mashable.com says, “you must create a name that is short (ideally, two syllables and <10 letters), memorable and relevant to your idea. It should be easy to find and spell, project positive connotations to your target audience and cannot conflict with existing trademarks.”
2. Find a Visual Representation – When it comes to expressing ideas, pictures can be very helpful. Cezary Pietrzak says, “To generate more names for your startups, do a keyword search on a visual search site and browse its images for inspiration.” Pinterest and Flickr are great resources for finding images.
3. Create Compound Words – Many of the most notorious business names are compound words. Pietrzak suggests: “Place one word in front of the other and join them together. Try combinations of two nouns as well as a noun and a verb, and make sure they have rhythm. Compound names are one of the most common ways that startups name their companies.” For example: Birchbox, SendGrid, Skillshare, Milewise, Timehop, Betaworks, Sailthru, Fitbit, CardMunch, GetAround, Facebook, Geeklist, Foursquare, LaunchRock
4. Make Sure It’s Easy to Spell and Pronounce – Alexandra Watkins of Eat My Words says, “Most of us have to tell people how to spell and pronounce our own names. There’s not a lot we can do about a name we were born with or married into. But when you are naming a company you are starting with a clean slate – don’t start out with a disadvantage by making it difficult for people.”

Naming your start-up is a huge decision. If your small business needs marketing help, contact Three Girls today.

Special Offer: Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. loves working with small and emerging companies to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation with our CEO and can answer your questions and discuss your specific brand marketing needs. Email info@ThreeGirlsMedia.com to make your appointment today.

Image Credit: Alan O’Rourke