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- How To Come Up With a Great Business Name
Top Strategies on How to Find a Good Business Name
- Modified: 16 September 2025
- 10 min read
- Incorporation
Rodney Wong
Author
Rodney helps customers in Singapore navigate their way through the details and benefits of our products and services, and to see how the application of technology to their needs could be a game changer for their business. A big believer in the power of the written word, he makes tech topics accessible, applicable, but most of all, useful, to encourage entrepreneurs to chase that big idea.
Need tips on how to find a good business name? You’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through defining your brand, brainstorming creative names, checking availability, and getting feedback. Let’s get started on finding the perfect name for your business.
Key Takeaways
- Define your brand identity by clarifying your mission, vision, and values to ensure your business name resonates with your target audience.
- Utilise creative brainstorming techniques, like business name generators and wordplay from household names, to generate unique and memorable names.
- Conduct thorough research on domain availability, trademarks, and social availability to avoid legal issues and ensure consistent branding.
Define Your Brand Identity
Before exploring business name ideas, it’s important to understand your brand clearly. You need to know what your brand stands for, its values, mission, vision, and target audience. Many small businesses use their brand name as the business name to reinforce brand recognition.
On the flip side, a wrong business name can create insurmountable hurdles and negatively affect brand perception. Let’s break this down further.
As you embark on naming your business, Osome can support you by handling the legal registration, trademark searches, and compliance tasks efficiently, helping ensure your chosen business name is protected and your brand is built on a solid foundation.
Clarify your mission and vision
Understanding your business’s mission and vision is foundational, as they are the guiding principles that drive your business forward. A clear mission and vision allow you to select a business name that embodies the principles and aspirations of your brand.
Reflecting your mission and vision in your business name ensures it resonates with your audience.
Identify core values
A company's values are the fundamental beliefs that guide your business decisions and actions. These values also impact your business operations and company culture.
A business name that reflects your values ensures relevance and appeal. Clever wordplay or combining words that represent your business’s core services can result in a distinctive name that adds personality and memorability.
Determine the target audience
Understanding your target audience is crucial for selecting a captivating business name that appeals to them. Your business name should align with the interests and expectations of your potential customers, enhancing brand loyalty and creating a connection that fosters business growth.
Choosing a name with your audience in mind ensures it resonates and fosters lasting relationships with customers.
Brainstorming Techniques for Business Names
Now, you can begin brainstorming potential business names. This stage is all about creativity and exploring various techniques to generate a list of potential names that resonate with both you and your customers, including the business idea of what might work best.
Consider using foreign words, clever combinations, or even elements from mythology to inspire unique business names. Here are some effective brainstorming techniques.
Use a business name generator
A business name generator can be a valuable tool in your brainstorming arsenal. These generators can help streamline the brainstorming process by providing a range of name options based on your input keywords. The purpose of using a business name generator is to provide starting points for name ideas, especially when you feel stuck or need a creative boost.
Generating names helps generate name combinations and possibilities you might not have initially considered.
Wordplay and mash-ups
Wordplay is extremely helpful to create a catchy and memorable business that will leave a strong impression in your industry. Some examples include using puns or onomatopoeic words to create a humorous and engaging appearance, or mash-up names by combining two existing words to create your own name. Examples of successful mash-up business names include TripAdvisor and DoorDash.
Writing down words associated with your services and products and combining them can create a distinctive and appealing word name.
Draw inspiration from mythology and literature
Exploring mythology, movies, and literary works can be a rich source of unique business name ideas. Mythological figures often symbolise strength and timelessness, making them ideal for business names that need to convey these qualities. Similarly, literary characters offer distinct traits that can align with specific business niches.
Referring to literary and classic sources can lead to unique and timeless business names that stand out in the market.
Keep in mind the naming requirements for certain business structures
Some countries have specific requirements for certain business structures. For example, Singapore requires private limited liability companies to add "Pte Ltd" at the end of the entity name; a public company limited by shares should have "Ltd" at the end of its name; and an unlimited private company should have "Unlimited" as part of its name.
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Conduct Thorough Research
Once you have a list of potential names for your business, it’s time to conduct thorough research to:
- Ensure your chosen name is available
- Confirm it doesn’t infringe on existing trademarks
- Check existing business names in your industry for insights on trends and audience appeal
Here are the essential research steps.
Check domain availability
Check domain name availability to secure a matching website. A relevant domain name can boost your business’s visibility. Different types of domains also have different meanings. For example, customers often associate .com domains with established businesses, .io domains with tech companies, and .org domains with non profit organizations. Use websites like Squarespace Domains or GoDaddy to check and register your business domain name promptly. Sometimes, you may also want to purchase similar domain names to prevent them from being used by industry competitors.
Perform a trademark search
Conduct a trademark search via your local intellectual property office to avoid legal issues. If your desired name is too similar to an existing trademark, it may not be registerable, leading to potential disputes over identical or confusingly similar names.
Search social media handles
Verify that your business name isn’t already in use on social media platforms. Consistent social media accounts strengthen your brand identity and improve recognition. Secure your desired handles early to maintain cohesive branding.
Check with ACRA (Singapore only)
For businesses in Singapore, it’s essential to double-check your business name with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). This ensures your chosen name complies with local regulations and isn’t already registered by another entity. Conducting this check helps avoid registration delays and legal complications.
Test and Get Feedback
Testing your business name and gathering feedback is a critical step to validate your ideas. Feedback from trusted colleagues and the target audience helps you understand how the name resonates with others and if it creates a connection.
Let’s explore the ways to gather valuable feedback.
Gather opinions from friends and family
Gathering feedback from friends and family helps you understand their perceptions and preferences regarding your business name. Initial reactions can reveal how memorable or appealing a name might be, providing valuable insights for refinement.
Suggestions from people who care about you can lead to alternatives that resonate better with your audience, adding a personal touch.
Conduct market research
Researching other industry business names is essential to validate your business name ideas by testing them with actual potential customers. Gathering feedback and testing the name’s clarity ensures it resonates with your audience and is easy to remember and communicate. A great research method is simply to type "top X companies" in your industry and target market in the search bar, and you can get a general idea of what other businesses are calling themselves.
Test pronunciation and spelling
A business name should be easy to pronounce and spell to enhance memorability and prevent customer confusion. A great business name should have an appealing sound when said aloud, making it more likely to be used in conversations.
The memorability of a business name is influenced by several factors. These include spelling, pronunciation, and length.
Naming Subsidiary and Holding Companies
Naming subsidiary and holding companies requires careful consideration to ensure they align with the parent company’s branding and reflect their purpose and structure. The name should encompass the nature of its business relationships and avoid limitations that could hinder future expansions.
Here are the specifics regarding the project, including timelines and deliverables, as well as considerations for other locations on the example page, including the exact name.
Align with the parent company branding
A subsidiary’s name should reflect the parent company’s branding to maintain a cohesive corporate identity. The name should reflect the values and mission of the company to maintain consistency.
Reflect purpose and structure
The name of a holding company should clearly indicate its function of managing assets and investments without operational involvement. It should convey its role in managing and overseeing its subsidiaries strategically.
Names should communicate the subsidiary’s specific focus, activities, or market niche to enhance understanding among customers.
We help you register a company name
Our onshore team will alleviate the stress that comes with business name registration in Singapore. Get in touch today.
What to Do if Your Desired Business Name is Taken
If your desired business name is already taken, it’s not the end of the road. While business owners should avoid identical names, you can always take advantage of aliases and doing-business-as names to create a more memorable name besides your company's legal name. This is a great strategy for small businesses to find a name they're personally happy with.
A quick Google search on a business name can also reveal prior usage and avoid legal complications. Exploring variations and alternatives is a great way to maintain the original intent while building a unique identity.
Here are some strategies.
Explore variations and alternatives
Naming options for new businesses can seem limited, especially when aiming for a short and memorable name. Using AI-powered tools, entrepreneurs can receive tailored name suggestions that evolve based on their own name preferences.
Variations of existing brand names allow you to maintain the original intent while constructing a unique identity.
Differentiate your brand
To make your business stand out in the industry, you should focus on highlighting unique characteristics that set your company apart. Aligning your branding with your audience’s values fosters emotional connections, setting your company apart in a crowded marketplace.
This means ensuring strong visuals across your website, social media, and print marketing materials. As the business grows, don't forget to give credit to your supporters who have helped you along the way. Building a strong audience relationship is crucial to differentiating yourself.
Summary
To sum up, choosing the right business name is a multifaceted process that begins with a deep understanding of your brand identity and extends through creative brainstorming, competitor search, thorough research, and gathering feedback. Employing techniques like using a name generator, engaging in wordplay, and finding inspiration from mythology and literature can spark innovative ideas.
If you want to go beyond just finding the perfect business name, Osome offers comprehensive incorporation packages designed to simplify your journey. From handling business registration to ensuring your chosen name is legally protected, Osome’s incorporation services take care of all the paperwork and compliance.
Rodney helps customers in Singapore navigate their way through the details and benefits of our products and services, and to see how the application of technology to their needs could be a game changer for their business. A big believer in the power of the written word, he makes tech topics accessible, applicable, but most of all, useful, to encourage entrepreneurs to chase that big idea.
