Does the perfect name even exist? Choosing a name is one of the most subjective decisions you’ll ever make. We all have our preferences, and what sounds ideal to some can seem terrible to others. But, as with most things, there are guiding principles that can help you find the right name for your business.
Names with memorable simplicity
Some names and types of words stick in our minds more easily than others. These names tend to share three characteristics:
- Brief: fewer than 12 characters (ideally around 8)
- Easy to pronounce: avoid words with multiple possible pronunciations or that are simply unclear when spoken aloud.
- Easy to spell: ideally, words whose spelling matches their pronunciation exactly.
Distinctive and full of character
What’s different grabs our attention, and attention is the foundation of memory. Names that are too similar to competitors risk confusing your audience. They also make it harder to build a brand with a genuine identity and personality of its own.
Available
Obviously, a brand name that’s already taken is worthless to you. It’s equally critical that the corresponding domains — your internet address — are available. Losing out on your brand’s domain means losing every customer who looks for you online or on their phone. Ideally, both the .com domain and the one for your country (.com.ar, .cl, .com.mx…) should both be available. All it takes to find out is a quick search on registros.com.
The journey toward a great brand
Finding a name that is simple, distinctive, and available is genuinely hard work. After all, thousands of people are trying to accomplish the same thing, and the pool of names that tick all three boxes is limited. But the effort is worth it. The moment you start working with the right name, you’ll realize just how much it helps to have found the perfect one.
