How to come up with a business name — go unconventional!
Finding the right name for your business can be a very intimidating, frustrating and challenging experience. Browsing the internet, you’ll come across many “Do’s & Don’ts” when it comes to naming your company: “Do keep it simple. Don’t be too literal. Don’t use a word people can’t pronounce. Do….” There are countless articles that propose the right and wrong ways to choose a company name. Although I admit there are some truths to these “conventional” rules, the most important factor to consider is the story behind the name.
It’s ok to have a name that makes people ask, “So what does that mean?” I also believe it is ok to make it playful, or a variation of an existing common name (e.g. Houzz), or a name that has nothing to do with your business (e.g. Drunk Elephant, Slack).
Believe it or not, your company name will have little effect on the long-term success or failure of your business. There are so many more important factors, such as having a good product or service, that will determine the real success of your business. And if you’re lucky, like in the case of Google, Kleenex, or Slack, maybe your company name will one day become a household name!
Factors I considered when naming my company
When I came up with the name Qyral /ˈkīrəl/, a technology driven and personalized anti-aging brand, my friends and family DID NOT LIKE IT AT ALL!
The number one concern was that people would not remember the name, or wouldn’t be able to pronounce it. But I didn’t care! It was a name that resonated and connected with me. I believe, as the founder of the company, I can transfer that deep connection to my audience in many different ways.
For one, Qyral is a play on the word “Chiral,” from chemistry.
It means a non-superimposable mirror image (think of your left and right hand), and in the case of science, a molecular mirror image has a huge impact on the molecule. The molecule may look and structurally be the same, made of the same atoms, but it now behaves completely differently!
Symbolic of how us humans are… ALL DIFFERENT!
Although we’re all made of the same molecular structures, we’re still so different and unique, and I believe our skincare and supplement products should accommodate our individual uniqueness. Also, a mirror image is a reflection of the self and soul.
This all has such a deep meaning to me, I could not help the name!
However, there are still some basic factors I considered, which I have outlined below. But the #1 factor I believe in is: are you proud of it?
How to come up with a business name — My 5 Recommendations:
#1 Keep it short
I say this because the longer the name, the higher the probability that someone will misspell or type it wrong in a browser. If you are going to have a long name, try to avoid using terms that are unrelated. For example myfreecreditreport.com makes sense, however, doglagjumprunplantains.com (totally made this up) doesn’t really jive too well, does it? The chances of you remembering this name are pretty slim!
#2 Consult websites such as www.namemesh.com that give variations of spelling or alternative domain suffix availabilities
There’s a good chance that the short fun name you want isn’t available with a .com suffix. However, there may be a chance that it is available with a variable spelling, or a different suffix. Sites such as namemesh.com take the guesswork out of searching for a good domain name. Check it out!
#3 Avoid hyphens, underscores, and periods in URLs
Although hyphens, underscores, and periods are common in email names, they can be a bit confusing when it comes to domain names. Also, .co can be confused with .com. The chances of you adding the “m” after .co, or forgetting the separation period in between the two terms, are high!
#4 Check to see that no one owns the name
The last thing you want to do is launch a website and a few months later, receive a cease and desist letter from an attorney because you never checked to see whether or not you’re infringing on someone else’s trademark. A good place to start is the US Patent and Trademark Office’s online trademark search tool. If you’re not sure about the legal implications of your company name, consult an attorney who specializes in trademarks. This can save you a lot of trouble, headaches, and money down the line.
#5 Be proud of what you choose!
At the end of the day, whichever name you decide to go with, choose the one that you’re proud of! Boast it with confidence…
NOW GO GET ’EM TIGERRRR! ARRRRRRR…
P.S. Would love any feedback you have on this article, or the www.qyral.com brand. I’m an avid learner, and who better to learn from than the wonderful readers of this article!
