Brand Naming
What’s in a name?
Everything.
The right name is an anchor for your brand in people’s minds.
A name can simply be the last name of the founder, such as Dell. It can tell you what the product is about, such as Microsoft. And sometimes it can surprise you, like Apple.
We help businesses find the best available name for their brand including checking domain availability and trademark databases.
We offer Standard and Comprehensive Brand Naming services to meet your specific needs.
Brand Naming Services
Standard Brand Naming Service
We’ll research and find available names that make the best first impression for your brand.
With our Standard Brand Naming Service we will review any existing notes and materials that you have and:
- Research available names
- Check for domain availability
- Provide explanation and notes for each name
- Perform brief Internet searches for any potential competition for the name
All work is presented in a brand naming brief for your review and consideration. Add-on services include additional name searches.
If you require a trademark search or more comprehensive approach, consider our Comprehensive Brand Naming service. We also offer a do-it-yourself online course to guide you through our proven process to Find the Best Name.
Comprehensive Brand Naming Service
We’ll research your audience, competitors and find available names that make the best first impression for your brand.
Our comprehensive brand naming service includes:
- Audience Definition
- Competitor Research
- Focus Words
Once we have a good handle on your target audience and the competitive landscape you are operating in, we will begin to research and present possible names.
All names are thoroughly evaluated including:
- Domain availability checks
- Trademark search
- Competition for each proposed name
All work is presented in a comprehensive brand naming brief for your review and consideration.
Add-on services include due diligence, evaluating translations and searching for more names.
Why is a good brand name so important?
Your brand name is what signifies your business, product or service in the marketplace. When your customers, employees and stakeholders see the name, it makes an imprint in their mind.
A name isn’t just a label, it’s the fountainhead for your brand and the core of your brand story. Your brand name should reflect your mission, connect emotionally with your audience, and stand out from competitors. It should sound good, be easy to spell, and be easily shared by word of mouth. Ideally, it needs to be short and snappy too.
Balancing all of these factors is no small feat. The best names may seem effortless, but they’re rarely accidental.
For startups and existing businesses that are rebranding, a name is a long-term commitment. It will be used in your domain, logo, marketing, legal documents, and it’s the north star of your customer experience. There’s a lot riding on making the right choice. As a result, the fear of choosing the wrong name can often create analysis paralysis.
Why is finding a good brand name challenging?
For any business owner or marketing executive tasked with developing a brand name, the seemingly simple task quickly reveals itself to be more challenging.
According to the US Census Clock, there are over 340 million people living in the US and over 8 billion people worldwide. It may sound obvious, but with that many people, there’s a lot of ideas floating out there! And, it can seem like many of the ‘best names’ are already taken.
If you’re running Google Searches to check out some of your ideas for a new name, you’re likely to see other businesses or products that have used a similar name. In fact, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office processes hundreds of thousands of trademark applications each year.
While AI tools and name generators can provide inspiration, they often lack the nuance needed to develop a name that feels authentic, strategic, and timeless. Names created with AI can sound robotic or generic, and they typically don’t consider your brand’s specific voice, audience, and competitive positioning.
At Upward Arrow, we help you uncover names that are built to last. We also research to ensure your name is available for use.
We’ll help you find a name that reflects the values of your business and resonates strongly with the people who matter most. That’s the truly the best name for your business.
Learn more about our brand naming services on this page and feel free to contact us to discuss your brand naming project.
Get a Free Brand Naming Consultation
Looking for help but not sure where to start? Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your project.
Brand Naming FAQs
What is brand naming?
Brand naming is the process of creating a memorable, strategic name that reflects your business values, audience, and goals. It’s the foundation of your brand identity.
How do I register a domain for my brand?
Once you’ve selected a name, you can register your domain through a provider like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. We’ll guide you through it or handle it for you.
How do I check if a name is taken?
With our Comprehensive Naming Service, we perform domain availability searches and check the U.S. trademark database to help you avoid conflicts. All of our naming services include Internet searches to check for any obvious competition for the name.
How long will it take to name my brand?
Our Standard Naming Service is typically completed in 1–2 weeks. Our Comprehensive Naming Service may take 3–4 weeks depending on scope and feedback rounds.
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