How to Name Your App
By Alexander Kabanov
Last updated: 5 Jan 2026
Here are some tactics I used while suffering through the search for a name for an app I’m building. Some approaches work even better for naming a business, a website, or a product.
I’m writing this as a reminder to myself, and I hope it’ll help somebody else.
Tip: google your candidates before you get too attached to a particular name.
Check the names against existing top-level domains. You can use Domain Sonar for this.
Search USPTO and WIPO for existing trademarks. It’s cheaper to do it now than to get a cease and desist letter once you are known and profitable.
You’ll find pretty soon that the majority of the good names are already taken. Many of them more than once.
Good luck.
Now, let’s get to it.
Name what it does
Come up with a good, simple, self-explanatory name.
I’m making an app that teaches a technique for unlocking number memorization ’talent’ you didn’t know you had. The app also helps to put this technique into practice in a few different ways.
It’s OK to have a simple, self-explanatory name. Like Calendar. Or Camera. Or Calculator. So I named it MemoNumbers. Inevitably.
Then start doubting yourself. Because you know this name feels like a generic tool.
Brainstorm with an expert
Talk to an AI. Explain what you’re building. Ask it to be your brand manager and brainstorm a name for you.
It’ll tell you many things, but the most important is that a self-explanatory name is a poor candidate for a good brand.
Find out that you don’t like the suggestions: they are already taken, they are off, too generic, or all at once.
Realize that you don’t like your original name anymore either.
Specialized AI name generator
There are plenty of name generators out there. Cross your fingers and give them a try:
They create some good stuff, but soon you realize that the generated names have the same issues: they are already taken, they are off, too generic, or all at once.
Note down the best few, just in case.
Real randomness
Use a random word generator. Try random animals, things, lakes, and gods. Find nothing good.
Check out existing brand names for inspiration. Move on.
Try this quirky Game Studio name generator. You’ll hardly find anything good, but at least you’ll have a lot of fun and some rest.
Remember checking the names in Domain Sonar? I’m mentioning this website for the second time because I made it. Just marketing, nothing personal.
Faked randomness
By this point, you might’ve realized that the realm of real words is crowded and hostile. Now it’s time to turn your gaze to fake words.
Read through a few hundred fake words. Write down a hundred or so somewhat promising options.
Google them.
Toss them.
Sink deeper into desperation.
A real name
Think about persons names. Or pet names. Or geographic names (yes, I know I already mentioned the lakes). If you think I’m joking, google Dave, Brigit, and Marcus apps.
It might be a good choice for a helper, a coach, or a companion app (health, habits, language learning, finance assistant). But the trade-offs are uniqueness and searchability among some others.
Tip: you’re not restricted to your native language or country. But be ready to explain your choice, so it won’t feel like cultural appropriation.
Paradoxically, you can still trademark them. Check for Alexander at USPTO for example. I was surprised to say the least.
Scramble
By now, you probably have a list of promising names you have rejected for some reason.
Try scrambling them. Scrambling is when you shuffle the letters in random order. There is a tool for this.
After wasting some more time, try UN-scrambling the names from your notes. This is when you shuffle the letters to create other words. There is a tool for this too.
Maybe you’ll come up with a good, clever anagram.
I haven’t.
Bits and pieces
Try combining words from your notes, but tear them down first. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it manually. Here’s a good tool.
The most promising name I came up with for my app was “Nmory,” from “Number memory.”
Unfortunately, it was too close to a new tool from JetBrains.
The derivatives, like “Enmory” and “Tenmory”, also failed the checks.
User identity
Shift from the app’s purpose to what identity it gives the user. The “Vocalista” iPhone app is a great example.
My journey to better memory skills started thanks to “The Mentalist” series.
At some point I stopped thinking about “number memorization” and started thinking about the kind of person who does it.
That’s how I ended up with Numerista.
If you’re stuck, try this: can you come up with an app name suitable as a label for a person using your app?
If yes, you might have something.
If not, go back to the generators and suffer a little more.
Conclusion
Please tell me in the comments if I missed some good approach here. This might help me and others save valuable time in the future.
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