Create a unique company name
When trying to create a unique company name for your business, I found that there was a three step approach to creating a unique name.
When I was developing a new company name, I created about 20 using this method, each time I would follow the steps through to create a name that was appropriate, unique and usable.
1. Get inspiration
First of all you have to select a few sources for inspiration. You need ideas as to what you’re looking for.
Most companies begin by thinking up variations of the activity they do (ie: for a company selling mobile phone: mobile, phone, cell, sales, etc), however sometimes a company may not sell anything specific, and may cover many different activities.
You can try investigating other company names, to see where they got their inspiration from.
Find words that you like, or that sound as if they relate to your general activities.
Look at your own name, and names of others involved in the company, see if they can give inspiration.
Place names are good too, see if you can become establish based on the name of your area.
2. Generate a unique name
Once you have your inspiration, there’s a few techniques you can use to get the unique name that you are looking for:
- Crossword Helper/Solver – This will allow you to use certain formulas to pick words. (ie: using the initials of the partners to help you generate appropriate words).
- Thesaurus – Allows you to find synonyms for words your choice of words.
- Anagrams – Use this with a combination of names involved in the company or such.
- Translator – Try translating a few words you’ve chosen to get that unique angle.
3. Validate it’s usable
You should really ensure that the name you choose is not in use, recommendations for ensuring they are not in use include:
- Check with your common sense – If your company is only open 12 hours a day, for gods sake, don’t call your company “24seven”.
- Checking with government departments (in the UK such as CompaniesHouse WebCheck).
- Check the registered trademarks database for your country and possibly major countries such as US and UK, as existing companies may wish to expand into your country, meaning you would not be authorised to use the name.
- Check with yellow pages, and ensure there’s no one already using the name.
- Check with Google, check for variants (eg: “my idea”, myidea, etc), if it’s commonly used by a website or company for their product or service, then chances are they could battle you over rights to the name. Avoid where possible.
- Check that there is no active domain name using your name, (eg: myidea.com). Sometimes domain names are not in use and are just parked/advertising/on sale, always check first.
Feedback
Once you have a sufficient amount of names, gather feedback from your friends and family.
I found asking them their top 5 and their bottom 5 helped narrow down the choices.
This will help you settle on a name that will work for you and your customers.
If all else fails…
You could always try the assistance of a naming firm or a company name generator, but there’s nothing quite like your own inspiration, so don’t give up straight away.
Note: I DO NOT help you choose a company name for free.
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M. Mathew - ZEN INTERNATIONAL said,
December 31, 2008 @ 7:28 am
As we are super promoters / marketers of various Educational & LIFE SKILLS products on PAN INDIA level and wanted to win & explore the world wide business . Presently the name we are using is ZEN INTERNATIONAL, but its already used by many others world wide for various products. Please give me some options / choices of few unique names for my brand new company.
deepak said,
May 12, 2009 @ 5:55 am
we are just going to start a new company of software so please give the unique name for the company
lizette van zyl said,
July 20, 2009 @ 6:22 am
I have started a export company, please help me in creating a name, your urgent reply will be appreciated.
shiba prasad lenka said,
August 8, 2009 @ 9:11 am
I am going to start a Computer Service center.
Pls. a provide a suitable unique name.
rajinikanthreddy said,
August 12, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Hi i am going to start a consultancy
Pls. a provide a suitable unique name
ragards
rajini
aswad said,
August 25, 2009 @ 7:34 am
we r plan to launch a pharma company. suggest us a new company name
Charvi Aggarwal said,
September 13, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
i am starting a construction company kindly help me in keeping a suitable name.your help will be appreciated.
Vishwanath said,
September 22, 2009 @ 2:36 pm
we are Planning to have a new I.T company pls suggest some good and unique names
Annie said,
September 24, 2009 @ 1:12 am
Hi
Really need advice to have a good impact for my new company, its a combine medical and property related so….any solution, as i and my partner are in that category
rahul said,
September 24, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
Hi, I am going to start a IT company please send me a unique name
sanjay said,
October 20, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
sir we want to start a local news chainal with website and maggine . and my websit runingsa the name Bnews.in my location is patna bihar
yolande said,
October 23, 2009 @ 8:18 am
I want to start a training facility company, kindly give some creative, modern or funky name ideas
atifraheem said,
November 26, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
i want to start food and water items business i need best name option for my company.
Babu said,
December 2, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
Hi,
Need a unique name to start a computer service centre. Please help me out. My Partners are Aamir and Jagadeesh. The name should be unique and should not resemble our own names.
Ketul Malavia said,
December 11, 2009 @ 9:20 am
Please suggest suitable name for New division of the company. New Division will be involved in manufacturing of Steam Sterilizers which are commonly used in Food & Beverage Industry to increase the Shelf life of the product.
I would like name something combination of product, its use and industry.
It Company Name said,
December 29, 2009 @ 12:10 pm
I have search it company name
puja said,
January 10, 2010 @ 1:20 pm
I have started a jwellery export company, please help me in creating a name, your urgent reply will be appreciated.
rajesh said,
February 1, 2010 @ 5:17 pm
i want to start a company in consultancy of legal and compliace kindly help to get a unique name of the company
Nitin gadve said,
February 8, 2010 @ 2:48 pm
I am going to start wheel aligement workshop so, please suggest the unique name for my workshop.
upendra said,
February 22, 2010 @ 6:17 pm
give me unique name for it company………..
Chris Eccleston said,
March 15, 2010 @ 5:34 pm
It annoys me all you people who have read as far as this and blatently missed/ ignored the line stating “Note: I DO NOT help you choose a company name for free.” And those of you that did ask… Wouldn’t it be polite to ask correctly in a readable format?
This is a highly informative piece which I have found inspiring…
hm2k said,
March 15, 2010 @ 10:58 pm
@Chris
Thanks. I put the requests through anyway because I find them amusing. Glad somebody read it properly.
Cheers.
saif said,
April 5, 2010 @ 10:41 am
hi…
im going to open my company plz suggest me some good and unique name…my company is about surgical,dental,beauty instruements and gloves manufecturing and supplying…
thanks
randhir said,
May 8, 2010 @ 11:23 am
i am goint to start a company who has business in connection with computer sales & service plus cartridge refilling.
plzz suggest me a unique name.(exciting name!!!)
arun said,
May 27, 2010 @ 12:47 pm
hello, I am going to start a IT company please send me a unique name