How to Name Your Startup

Here are 8 methods to try

Author

Rameel Sheikh
April 30, 2024

Eight Product Naming Strategies

Insight from Ali Abouelatta

Naming a product is hard.

Ever wondered how some startup names stick like superglue in your brain? It's no fluke

Combining taste, utility, and clarity to symbolize your company's actions is no easy feat.

Thankfully, Ali Abouelatta analyzed the top 100 apps on the App Store. He came up with 8 naming strategies that you can use.

Here are the 8 naming strategies you can use to name your next breakout product:

1. Mashups

Mashups merges two words into one.

  • Facebook (Face + Book)

  • Snapchat (Snap + Chat)

  • Doordash (Door + Dash)

  • Expedia (Exploration + Speed)

  • Netflix (Internet + Flicks)

2. Play on words

Play on words are creatively spelled terms that describe the company's product, service, or value.

  • Tiktok: Play on the ticking sound of a clock

  • Reddit: Play on the term read it

  • Lyft: Play on the word lift

3. Paying tribute

This category includes companies named after someone (or something) significant to the founder.

  • Peacock: Tribute to CNBC’s logo

  • Starbucks: Tribute to Starbuck, a character in "Moby Dick."

  • Apple: Tribute Newton’s apple

  • Mcdonald's: named after Ronald Mcdonald

  • Roku: means 'six' in Japanese. Roku was the founder's sixth startup

4. Aspiration

Names in this category reflect the company’s mission or goals.

  • Uber: from the German word über, meaning "over, above.”

  • Target: symbolizing becoming the go-to shopping destination.

  • Nike: named after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.

  • Amazon: inspired by the vast South American rainforest, reflecting size and diversity

5. Easy to remember, write and pronounce

Meaningless words that are short and memorable (bonus points if they rhyme or have a .com available)

  • Temu

  • Hulu

  • Tubi

6. Value/service descriptor

Words that directly describe a product or service

  • Threads

  • Telegram

  • Zoom

7. Domain name

Domain names as company names are rare but do exist. Perhaps because of the SEO/search benefits from being known for your domain.

8. Abbreviation

When all else fails, use an abbreviation.

  • VRBO

  • CVS

  • ADP

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