How To Come Up With A Blog Name
You are a new blogger starting a blog. Yay!
But now you need to pick your blog’s name – your domain name – your business name.
And coming up with ideas for a blog name is putting new wrinkles in your forehead. And we can’t have that!
I know this because I get emails every day saying…
Shane, I don’t know how to name my new blog. And do I also have to worry about my blog niche?
I don’t know about you, but I seem to be one of those people coming up with a name waaaay after someone else already has.
There’s nothing more deflating than seeing that domain name brandished blazingly across someone else’s blog.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The truth is that there are ways to come up with good blog names that we probably wouldn’t have thought of on our own.
Are you ready to start a successful blog of your own? Then you should join my free 5 day Start a Blogging Business Crash Course.
Things to Consider When Creating an Original WordPress Blog Name
Before you dive head-first into the world of wordsmithing, it’s worth taking a moment to think about just what your blog name is going to represent.
- What is your blog going to be about?
- Who is your target audience? (Also important for SEO)
- What is the tone / voice of your blog going to be like?
- Will you be building your brand around your blog name?
- Are social media names also available?
If you come up with a name that’s completely irrelevant to your content, it won’t be doing you any favors.
Similarly, a cool blog name that sounds corporate, for a fun and vibrant writing style, will again give your readers the wrong impression.
We need the perfect name for your blog!
Katie from Orb Online says
“Brand is one of the most important things when starting a blog or any website, that name stays with you, everything you do is to build that name so it has to be something you’ll look back on as a great choice!”
How To Come Up With A Blog Name [That Represents Your Brand Name]
With the above in mind, it’s time to really get into the thick of it. Below you’ll find 10 tried-and-true methods I’ve personally used to create my own catchy blog names that I think you’ll find just as useful.
If you still need help, here’s a name generator for you to use!
1. Grab the Thesaurus for a Catchy Name
There’s something about flicking through a good thesaurus that beats almost any other method I know for coming up with interesting new words.
The Thesaurus can be a goldmine of inspiration, especially if you want to say something in a slightly different way.
A quick scan of the word “Tips” brings up suggestions such as: buzz, hint, inkling, and pointer – all of which sound much more exciting to an ear that’s well-tuned to that more common phrase.
2. Look At Competitors’ Blog Names
This may seem like a no-brainer, but doing your research on the kinds of blogs you’ll be competing against will give you an idea of what type of name will work for your own blog.
You won’t be copying anyone, yet it may just be the perfect nudge to get those creative juices flowing. A similar name is a fine way to go.
3. Use a Blog Name Generator
One of my favorite tools for coming up with fun word combinations is Wordoid.com.
This creative blog name generator allows you to set your own limits on the kind of words you want to create.
Then all you need to do is hit “submit” and browse through the suggestions.
The great thing about Wordoid is that not only does it suggest pretty awesome names, it also tells you whether the .com of that name is registered by anyone.
Taking the stress out of crafting a great name, only to find out it’s being used elsewhere.
By now, you may be getting inspired or tired out 🙂
Just remember, go step-by-step through these recommendations and you’ll have a .com domain name before this post is done!]
4. Take Inspiration from Books
Whoever said you have to conform to rules when creating names? Why not take advice from the world’s greatest authors and use your favorite literature as inspiration?
With millions of books out there, all full to the brim with wonderful words, it won’t take you long to find something that inspires and delights, and be a potential contender for your new blog.
The good news? It was also a delight for search engines.
5. Consider a Different Language for the Best Blog Name
One of my favorite languages now is Icelandic. There’s something incredibly beautiful about the way the words and syllables flow together to create their meanings.
If you’re looking to stand out in a saturated market, choosing an abstract word or phrase in a language other than English can be a great way to draw attention to yourself. A simple online translator such as Google Translate will get you off to a good start.
For a creative blog name, try choosing something short with fewer syllables. This will help to keep your blog name easy to remember and pronounce!
6. Play with Words To Come Up With A Perfect Blog Name
What happens if you’ve already come up with the perfect blog name, but it’s already registered elsewhere on the net?
I’m sure we’ve all been there at some point and it’s incredibly frustrating but don’t write off your favorite name yet. You can find an available domain.
This cute little tool helps you to keep your original idea alive, by providing suggestions that are closely linked to your first choice.
It uses a range of methods such as suffixes, phonemes, and prefixes to name a few, in order to come up with alternative name suggestions that usually end up being even better.
[Just do me a favor and DON’T use hyphens in your domain name, OK?]
7. Use Humor
Laughter and humor is an infectious tonic with the benefit of making your readers smile. Try boosting those endorphins by creating a blog name that portrays a wicked sense of humor.
While it may not work for more professional blogs, if your tone of voice is fun, fresh and witty then there’s nothing to lose and is well worth giving a try.
Some of the names I’ve seen online using this method include Uncork Your Dork, Mommypotamus, and The Pillage People.
8. Try Alliteration
alliteration (noun)
- the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
- “The alliteration of ‘sweet birds sang’”
You may not realize it but I bet you use alliteration in your day-to-day life without even realizing it.
It has an almost musical quality that allows a sentence to flow fluidly from one word to the next and is incredibly addictive.
Try alliteration when coming up with your blog name, by using the same letter for each word in your name.
A few ideas could be, “Business Blogging Basics” or “Blogging Blues Busters” – you can probably come up with something much more awesome than me, I’m sure!
[Remember to use this trick in some of your blog titles, too]
9. Use Abbreviations
Take a moment to think about the companies and brands you’re aware of and how many of them have an abbreviated name.
I can think of at least ten off the top of my head and with a bit more thought I can probably think of many more.
Abbreviations are beneficial because they keep things short and sweet, without removing your brand and identity.
You can abbreviate your whole blog name, or mix it up by half-abbreviating and use a word on the end – a bit like Devish, the owner of WPKube, does.
10. Use Your Own Name
If you’ve tried all the above methods and run out of domain name ideas for your blog, you could always default to your own name to name your first blog.
Many bloggers have become hugely successful with self-named blogs.
Not only do you get to attribute your own name to the stuff you put forth on the web, people will also be able to recognize you more easily as the word spreads.[spacer height=”15px”]
Note: What If There Isn’t a .com Available?
For a blog – you’ll need a website and a domain name. This is where problems may come in.
A lot of the good names may be taken, even if they haven’t been active for years. However, this issue can serve as a great opportunity to use custom, rare top-level domains to give your site a fresh look.
