How do you come up with the names especially when most domains are taken?
With a friend, we decided to create an app for fun.
When we thought we were done with naming, we found out that someone already has in the same category the same name.
When we came up with another name, we found out that someone had patented the name even tho in a different field.
And when we created another one, all good domains were taken.
How do you come up with a name for your tool, and what kind of domain do you buy? (.com, .io, .so) etc.
75 views
Replies
That is a HARD problem and I kick myself constantly for not buying all the names I could think of 10 years ago :)
for me the domain name is still .com first, although I have not done much research into that - I guess for certain types of things you would use io. I also bought a .email recently for a batch email service that I am still testing out.
but then once you have the domain, the real problem is getting people to it, regardless of the name...
@son_thomsen true, but anyway, why do people prefer that io and so domain? :D Can anybody explain to me? :D
@busmark_w_nika I always figured that io was for a site that takes an input and deliveres an output, so not just for looking up info, but like a web app. I guess some of mine are web apps that could qualify for that.
I also ran into the naming issue at Apple with my Who Has It?, and Where Is It? apps on www.usefulisms.com - apparently they exist already but I was still able to create them.
Use AI for assistance.
@bruce23 I use but not many are usable (either they are taken too or sound too weird) :D
@busmark_w_nika When this happens, try using something backwards, making sure
it's not patented/copyrighted, then try patenting it. Weird can be viable as it stands out,
& hopefully more readily recalled. Names need not be directly related to IT or your products,
that comes out in your presentation overviews.
@bruce23 Well, we are going to use the naming as the competitor has, but the competitor has around 100 downlaods, we can surpass them.
Say the name and domain out loud to someone once, then ask them to type it. I'd take a .io they can spell on the first try over a .com that needs a hyphen and an explanation.
@al_kub I never could understand the hype around .io and .so :D why do people prefer it? :D
@al_kub true
Nika, the patent one may not be a blocker. Patents cover inventions, not names. Names are a trademark question, and trademarks mostly clash when the products are related. I’m not a lawyer, so I’d do a quick trademark search before dropping it.
I did this last week for a dev tool. 7 names on my list, 4 already taken, and the .com of the one I picked was gone too. I bought the .dev and moved on.
What is the app about?
@smiteshrmore Well, it will be a horoscope app, no breakthrough :D But I think that when a competitor has 100 downloads (maybe less) we can try to outcompete him. Especially when the app looks abandoned. :D
.app domains are cool and straightforward.
a long memorable dot com is decent.
Honestly, I go for simple and memorable.
or cool and funny and screw the marketing lol
@build_with_aj I am a boomer so will stick to .com :D