How to Name Your Blog: What Makes a Great Name?

blog_naming

You are reading Part 1 of 3 on How to Name Your Blog.
Part two
covers the different types of names you can choose from.
Part three
offers an easy tutorial to help you get ideas for your name.

Make that name stick, make it electric!

A great blog name gives you an immediate upperhand when it comes to branding, readership and overall lovability. It’s often the first point of contact with your readers and the one thing that remains constant as your blog evolves. If you can secure a fabulous name for your blog, the brand recognition alone can help draw attention from more established blogs with inferior names.

The problem for most people naming their blog is that every great name must also have its matching available domain. Domainers and cybersquatters have made this process very frustrating and difficult for those of us who just want to establish our websites and get on with things.

I’d like to say that naming your blog is a breeze, but it really isn’t. There are certain unofficial guidelines you must follow to make your name original and brandable. All too often I see people jump into a name without much imagination or patience. The result is more embarrassing than anything.

First let’s start with naming fundamentals:

Three Elements of a Great Blog Name

  1. It sounds good. Your blog name really needs a certain ring to it so that pleases not just your ears but everyone else’s as well. As you go thru your names say them out loud to yourself and others and get a reaction. Beware of overthinking it or trying to sound too cute, because the results can be rather abrasive (like vacationsexpress.com or whorepresents.com; also Jaiku, Plaxo, Plurk and Orkut sound pretty unpleasant to me).
  2. It’s catchy and memorable. Remove any signs of boredom or mediocrity or that you’ve settled for second best. I used to think Amazon.com was such an oddball name but I guess that’s the point! Ask yourself: would someone remember it after seeing it just once? Can it be spelled after reading it once? What image does it convey?
  3. It’s short. The name should be concise. Try to avoid articles (words like ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’) and other superflous modifiers (such as ‘best’ or ‘most’ or ‘happiest’). Another way of looking at it is to keep it under four syllables — any more than four and repeating it becomes a chore. There are exceptions to this, like when you might use your own name (garyvaynerchuk.com) or it just flows nicely (cinematical.com). Examples of good short names include: woot.com. JohnChow.com, Skype, Dooce.com, Gap, Hotair.com.

This concludes blog naming basics. With this advice you should start brainstorming and writing down your ideas. And if you’ve already started on this, strongly consider scratching off the names that don’t follow these rules.

Bonus: most web hosting companies offer a free domain name with a purchase with a hosting plan, which will run you about $6.95 per month (so worth it, trust me). I personally recommend Bluehost (affiliate link).

My next post simplifes your blog naming process by discussing five particular types of names.

25 Replies

  1. Frank Reply

    Awsome article!! i recently wrote an article on my blog about naming a blog, it contains some examples… some are quite funny too. Check it out if you want at http://www.ambloguity.blogspot.com

  2. Nameoholic Reply

    I’d like to recommend a tools which helps you with all of this and more. Check out this naming tool which also verifies your name, checks domains, related searches and more…

  3. Brittny Ottosen Reply

    Nice submit! GA can also be my greatest earning. Having said that, it’s not a much.
    thanks !! very helpful publish!
    amazing things thanx

  4. Rajdeep Pathak Reply

    Very nice and helpful post. Thank you!

  5. Calle Reply

    Thanx, this tool helped me a lot 🙂

  6. Karen Reply

    These tips are very helpful for anyone naming thier blog. I already had a blog before I read this but am pleased to know that it fits all the criteria.
    It’s called Blueberry Pi, being a pun on the fact that I like the colour blue and math.

  7. Bangla Choti Reply

    Thanks a lot dear, for your kind information. My Blog name is now short and easily memorable.

    All the thanks goes to you.

    Your concept of thinking helped me a lot to pick up a good name for my Blog.

    Have a nice time.

  8. Bonnie Reply

    I just signed up with go daddy with a .com name.Do you use the same name for a blog?

  9. Feizulidzwan Reply

    how to make blogspot
    i want make blogspot

  10. Blockbuster Diva Reply

    Yep I’m trying to think of a name, and everything’s taken!

  11. HELENA KORN Reply

    My children were needing Boe notice of business change form some time ago and discovered a business that hosts a searchable forms database . If others are looking for Boe notice of business change form too , here’s https://goo.gl/3tM80G .

  12. MARQUITTA JUN Reply

    Good article, Thanks!

  13. Joyce Schiele Champion Reply

    I want to start a blog and the name I want to use is Vintage Vabulous……Constructive Criticism Welcomed!!!

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