How to Come Up With a Business Name: A Beginner’s Roadmap

You’re walking down the street and see two signs, one says “Tasty Bites Café,” the other says “Food Place.” Which one feels more inviting?

Most of us would choose “Tasty Bites Café” just because of the name.

Seriously, it’s one of the first things people notice, and it sticks.

I mean, we all remember brands like Nike or Apple, not because their names are complicated, but because they’re easy and feel right.

A good business name does a lot of heavy work. It shapes first impressions and sticks in people’s minds long after they forget your ad or logo.

That’s why it’s worth spending a little extra time on.

So, in this guide, I’m going to walk you through the steps I recommend to anyone who is just thinking about how to come up with a business name in 2025.

Let’s jump in.

Get to Know Your Business

Before you even think about names, you need to know what your business is about.

Things like, what do you do, where do you want to go, and what matters most to you? In other words, I’m talking about your mission, your vision, and your values.

Let me explain.

Your mission is what you do every day, helping people learn new skills, selling fresh bread, whatever it is.

Your vision is about where you want to be in a few years, maybe running the best bakery in town, or building an online platform that helps a million people.

Values? Those are the non-negotiables. Maybe it’s being honest, or being creative, or just making people happy.

If you’re not sure where to start, try writing down three to five words that describe how you want your business to feel to someone.

Like, friendly, simple, bold, helpful, or maybe even fun.

Just take a minute and write them down. Those words are the heart of your brand.

When you know what your business stands for, it’s time to start thinking of names.

Gather Some Name Ideas

This is where it gets messy, but in a good way.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and just write. Every word that pops into your head about your business, your industry, or the feeling you want to give people.

This is about quantity, not quality, at least for now.

Once you’ve got your list, start mixing things up. Pick two words that could work well together.

Like, if you’ve got “Coffee” and “Cove” on your list, mash them up to get “Café Cove.”

It doesn’t have to make perfect sense right now. I don’t know if this feels this way only for me, but sometimes the best names come from weird combinations.

Anyway, if you’re still stuck, I’ve something that’ll save you loads of time.

Simply use the TalkBitz Business Name Generator (yes, it’s free to use).

Type in a couple of your keywords, hit generate names, and you’ll get a list of more than 60 name ideas instantly.

Look through the ideas and pick five to ten that feel right for your brand.

If you like one, click on that name to see if you can buy the domain for it. This might help you get the exact domain name even if you’re not planning to build a website now.

It could be worth it someday.

Narrow Your List

By now, you probably have a messy paper or notebook page full of potential names. But most of them? Yes, they won’t work out. That’s just how it goes.

Well, what if you circle your top 10 names? Don’t overthink this part. If a name makes you smile or gives you a little excitement, keep it.

Now run them through this simple checklist:

Is it easy to say?

Is it under three words?

Does it match those brand words you wrote down earlier?

Can someone remember it after hearing it once?

I know, this won’t guarantee you a perfect name, but this will help you find one that feels right and works in the real world.

Get Real-World Feedback

Now it’s time to test your top names in the real world. Text or call five people, friends, family, or anyone who might be your first customers.

Don’t just ask, “Which one do you like?” Ask better questions.

Here are three questions to try:

Which name feels clearest to you?

Can you spell it if you only hear it once?

What’s the first feeling or image that comes to mind?

You don’t need anything stylish here. Just make a simple list or small table and write down what they say.

You can use a simple Google Form for this feedback gathering process. All you need to do is create a form with your questions, share the link with your test group, and see how the responses come in.

This makes it easy to organize and analyze the feedback in one place.

Sometimes you’ll see everyone picks the same name for different reasons, or maybe you find out your favorite is hard for people to say.

That’s really helpful to know!

Check and Secure

If you’ve made it this far, you’re ahead of most people who are just dreaming of starting a business. But before you fall in love with a name, we need to check if you can actually use it.

First up, domain names. Go to a site like Namecheap, type in your top picks, and see what’s available, or you can simply use this tool below, it’s already integrated with Namecheap.

If your favorite is taken, don’t panic. Sometimes adding a short word (like getYourName.com) can solve the problem, but I’d avoid anything with dashes or numbers if you can help it.

Clean is best.

Next, check if the social media handles are free.

Open Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or wherever you plan to be active. Can you use your top name choices, or is someone else already using them?

And one more thing! Do a quick trademark search.

Just Google your country’s trademark database, and search your favorite name. You just want to be sure you’re not picking a name that’s already locked down by someone else in your field.

Make It Official

Once you’ve picked a business name you really like, don’t wait too much longer. Names get taken quickly, so grab yours right away.

Here’s what to do:

• Buy the .com domain, or whatever else fits you best.
• Get the matching social media accounts (own the username).
• (Optional) Register the name as a business or trademark if you’re serious about it or want legal protection.

These easy steps help you claim your spot and stop others from taking your name later on. Think of it as planting your flag that says, “This name is mine now.”

You get the idea.

Next Steps

Congrats! You have a business name. Now what?

Make a logo. Here you can see some free and affordable logo-making tools.

Try building a one-page draft website. Use a free tool like Hubspot website builder, or even make a quick Notion page to see your name in action.

Sometimes seeing it in context gives you new ideas or uncovers problems.

You can also share a teaser on your social media: “Big news coming soon…” Even if you don’t have everything ready, you’re building excitement, and it’s a good way to see if people like your name.

Still thinking? Naming is part art, part luck, and a little bit of gut feeling. But trust yourself.

The right name is out there, just waiting for you to claim it.