1,000+ Best Restaurant Name Ideas [2025]

Updated: June 10th, 2025

So, you've come up with the perfect restaurant idea, but in order to launch, you need a good business name.

And not just a name, but a creative and descriptive name that will make your restaurant stand out.

The name of your business will forever play a role in:

  • Your customers first impression
  • Your businesses identity
  • The power behind the type of customer your brand attracts
  • If you're memorable or not

We've put together 400+ restaurant ideas, provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to name your business and give real-world examples of how other founders came up with the name of their business.

Additionally, we provide you with a free business name generator with an instant domain availability check to help you find a custom name for your restaurant.

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Ideas

Catchy restaurant name ideas

  • The Brunch
  • Homely Café
  • The Eat Spot
  • The Hash House
  • The Pit Spot
  • The Snack Bar
  • The Pub
  • The Deli
  • The British Tea House
  • The Beerhouse
  • Cocktail
  • The Tied House
  • Brasserie
  • Café Spot
  • The Outlet Hub
  • The Former
  • The Juke
  • Entertainment Spot
  • The Food Resort
  • The Pub Hub
  • Sustainable
  • The Minor
  • Eatable
  • The Long Dinner
  • The Star Hub
  • The Deli Food
  • Flourish
  • Egg and Bowl
  • The Rice Bowl
  • The Dune
  • Casual Restaurant
  • The Shabby Space
  • The Incorporative
  • The Natural Resort
  • Eatery Spot
  • The Coffee Spot
  • The Ample Service
  • Busy Dine
  • The Tasty Spot
  • Fancy Co
  • The Meals
  • The Dawn
  • The Fresh Feed
  • Typical Dine In
  • Toned
  • The Classical Bar
  • Discriminated
  • The Bistro
  • The Wise Men
  • The Raw Eatery
  • Spice Market
  • Local Food Spot
  • The Differentials
  • Starry Night Eatery
  • More Food
  • Spice Drama
  • The Freshly Baked
  • Noshery
  • Steakhouse
  • The Gateway
  • Outlet
  • Confetti
  • My Night Spot
  • Boozer
  • Counter
  • Daily Food Club
  • Pastry Pub
  • Bruncheonette
  • Food Fusion
  • Dig In
  • Food Outlet
  • Display
  • The Mess Hall
  • Refectory
  • Eat O’café
  • Spoon Pub Pro
  • The Little Bar
  • Dining Car Group
  • Expensive Dining
  • The Italian
  • Kinder Diner
  • Driver Diner
  • PopularRestaurant
  • Popular
  • Nutritious Spot
  • Eatery Group
  • Discriminating Dining Compartment
  • Indian Bar Collective
  • Transport Restaurant
  • The Fashionable
  • The Frequent
  • Posh Store Place
  • OwnFood
  • The Crowded
  • Inexpensive Bar Trading Co
  • The Class
  • Fresh Foraging
  • PureFood
  • The Abundant Groceries
  • The Bad
  • The Star
  • The Insufficient
  • Much Foodstuffs Collective
  • Poor
  • Gourmet Co
  • NearestDiner
  • Better on Restaurant
  • LittleFood
  • Romantic Restoring
  • Weimar Diner

Creative restaurant name ideas

  • Discriminating Deli
  • Decent
  • The Stainless
  • Vegetarian Eating House Place
  • The Delicious Nutrition
  • The Nourishing
  • Prospective Restaurant
  • The More Foodstuff
  • Run Bistro Place
  • The Seedy
  • LittleFood
  • Hexagon Restaurant
  • Liquid Meals Pro
  • Little Bar Trading Co
  • The Fashionable Hotel
  • Coffeehouse Place
  • Adequate
  • Bistro Place
  • Nearest Coffeehouse Place
  • Nutrition Group
  • Better on Restaurant
  • Fresh Feed
  • StarRestaurant
  • Night Bar Group
  • The Spoon
  • The Little Bar
  • The Discriminating
  • Downtown Dinnertime
  • Average Eatery Place
  • Cafe Pro
  • Ordinary Meal Group
  • Downtown Dining
  • The Trendy
  • The Hungry Dining Car
  • Empty Restaurant Trading Co
  • Nutritious Foodstuffs Co
  • Greasy Dining Car Place
  • Apricot Restaurant
  • Famous Deli Spot
  • Abundant Foodstuffs Collective
  • Tinned
  • The Natural
  • Revolving Hotel Collective
  • Favorite Foodstuffs
  • Better Foodstuff
  • Nutritious Group
  • The Night
  • Indian Cafe Collective
  • Casual Buffet Car Collective
  • AvailableFood
  • FreeFood
  • The Wonderful
  • Expensive Dining
  • The Run Dining
  • The Plant
  • Allot Restaurant
  • Biter Diner
  • The Elegant
  • DownDiner
  • Male Buffet Car
  • Fine
  • Nutritious Collective
  • Quiet Store
  • The Poor Gourmet
  • Run
  • Night Buffet Car
  • Crowded Restaurant Group
  • LittleRestaurant
  • CheapFood
  • Meat Co
  • Fast Feeding
  • Cafe Group
  • Eating House Trading Co
  • Gourmet Co
  • Run Remainder
  • Bar Trading Co
  • Restaurant Spot
  • Fast
  • Casual Restaurant Pro
  • China Diner
  • Marathon Restaurant
  • Much Foodstuffs Collective
  • The Surplus
  • LoneDiner
  • Meal Place
  • Crayons Restaurant
  • The Organic Grocery
  • Vegetarian Gourmet Spot
  • The Greek
  • The Hour
  • Plain
  • Excellent Dining Place
  • Passport Restaurant
  • The Regular Coffeehouse
  • Foodstuff Place
  • Discerning Dining
  • Russian Restauration
  • Romantic Restauration
  • Indian Diner Collective
  • Run Reclamation
  • Little
  • StopDiner
  • Spoon Buffet Car
  • Liquid Groceries Pro
  • Cold Nutrition Place
  • LocalDiner
  • Nice Cuisine Place
  • Dining Compartment Trading Co
  • The Owned
  • Cozy

Learn more about starting a restaurant:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a restaurant?
-> Pros and cons of a restaurant

Need inspiration?

-> Other restaurant success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a restaurant
-> Restaurant slogans
-> Restaurant Instagram bios
-> Restaurant Instagram captions

Other resources

-> Blog post ideas for a restaurant
-> Restaurant quotes

Funny Restaurant Names

  • DecentRestaurant
  • The Tiny
  • Discriminating Restaurant Pro
  • Exclusive Cuisine Co
  • Kosher
  • Run Reclamation
  • Airport Restaurant
  • Favourite Foodstuff Trading Co
  • Ordinary Meal Group
  • PlainFood
  • Favourite Feed
  • RomanticRestaurant
  • Little
  • LocalDiner
  • Nice Deli Trading Co
  • Revolving Remainder
  • FellowDiner
  • Spicy Meals Place
  • Frozen Foraging
  • Sufficient Foodstuffs Co
  • Discerning Dinnertime
  • Frozen Fed
  • Local
  • Primer Diner
  • Groceries Co
  • LoneDiner
  • Known Cafe
  • Down
  • Old-timer Diner
  • Downtown Bistro Pro
  • Little Grocery Place
  • UndigestedFood
  • Best Grocery Pro
  • The Poor Gourmet
  • The Inexpensive
  • Bar Co
  • Style Pub
  • Spoon
  • The Discriminating
  • Dining Car Group
  • Discriminating
  • Diner Trading Co
  • SmallRestaurant
  • The Wise
  • The Wise Cafe
  • The Late Pub
  • ElegantRestaurant
  • Italian
  • The Much Foodstuffs
  • Better Foodstuff
  • The French
  • Trendy Bistro
  • The Excellent Cafe
  • Casual Restaurant Pro
  • Favourite Meat Place
  • StopDiner
  • The Nutritious Foodstuff
  • Grand Eatery Co
  • UpscaleRestaurant
  • HourDiner
  • Quiet Store
  • Stainless Restaurant Collective
  • Nutrient Collective
  • StyleRestaurant
  • Popular Deli
  • Greasy
  • The Petit Eatery
  • Romantic Restoring
  • Grocery Collective
  • Pentagon Restaurant
  • Enough Nutritious Place
  • Downtown Dropmeal
  • LittleFood
  • Fryer Diner
  • Diver Diner
  • Run Remainder
  • OldDiner
  • PoshRestaurant
  • Gourmet Place
  • Headstrong Restaurant
  • The Fashionable
  • Less Meal Trading Co
  • Gourmet Trading Co
  • The Insufficient
  • Wonderful Eating House Co
  • Fine Forage
  • The Seedy
  • Buffet Car Group
  • The Natural Meal
  • Principal Meat Place
  • Excellent Dining Place
  • The Wonderful
  • The Night
  • Transport Restaurant
  • Upscale Bar
  • CrowdedDiner
  • The Service
  • Outdoor Hotel Group
  • Fashionable Dining
  • Amazon Restaurant
  • Juggernaut Restaurant
  • Downtown Dining
  • OwnedRestaurant
  • GoodRestaurant
  • Hotel Co
  • Deli Co
  • Down Deli
  • Romantic Restauration
  • Nutritious Group
  • Upscale Pub

Cool restaurant name ideas

  • The Upscale
  • Frozen Foodstuffs
  • Nutritious Collective
  • The Greasy
  • Indian Bar Collective
  • GrandDiner
  • Spoon Buffet Car
  • Dingy Dine
  • Ingested
  • Mere Bar Place
  • SolitaryDiner
  • DryFood
  • The Casual
  • Fancy Cafe Spot
  • Indian Cafe Collective
  • The Good
  • The Solitary
  • Grocery Co
  • The Finest Cuisine
  • Small Cuisine Group
  • Revolving Reinstatement
  • Discriminating Dinner
  • The Organic Grocery
  • Proper
  • The Late
  • The Injudicious
  • Bar Trading Co
  • Nutrient Group
  • Russian Remainder
  • Diner Collective
  • The Dingy
  • Best Diner Trading Co
  • Cozy Deli Collective
  • Frozen Fed
  • Buffet Car Place
  • RegularDiner
  • Cuisine Place
  • Nice Cafe Group
  • Eatery Co
  • PetitDiner
  • Bistro Pro
  • The Wise
  • The Delicious Nutrition
  • Enough Nutritious Place
  • Kosher Foodstuffs Group
  • Spanish Deli Collective
  • Greek Cafe Place
  • The Adequate
  • Small Hotel Collective
  • CrowdedDiner
  • Upscale Bar
  • Chief
  • Plant
  • Wonderful Eating House Co
  • Bar Group
  • Sufficient Grocery Trading Co
  • Deli Group
  • Run Restored
  • FavouriteFood
  • Daily
  • The Fashionable Hotel
  • Greasy Dining Car Place
  • Downtown Dinnertime
  • The Service
  • SweetFood
  • Foodstuffs Group
  • Decent Meat
  • EnoughFood
  • The Romantic
  • StainlessDiner
  • Binder Diner
  • Dingy Dining Car
  • Deli Place
  • Fine Forage
  • The Regular Coffeehouse
  • The More Foodstuff
  • Dry Foodstuffs
  • Discriminating Dining Car
  • The Town
  • Posh Store
  • The Crowded Restaurant
  • Night Dining Car
  • KnownRestaurant
  • UpscaleRestaurant
  • Wise
  • Fast Feeding
  • The Owned
  • ClassicDiner
  • The Injudicious Pub
  • HourDiner
  • Sweet Grocery Collective
  • Restaurant Collective
  • Romantic Diner
  • Town
  • The Ingested Nutrition
  • Discerning Delicatessen
  • PlainFood
  • Discriminating Deli
  • Buffet Car Group
  • Downtown Dining Room
  • Nutrient Collective
  • The Russian
  • The Lone
  • The Nourishing
  • Small Bistro Collective
  • Downtown Dine
  • Revolving Reclamation
  • Exclusive
  • The Busy Deli
  • NiceRestaurant

Unique restaurant name ideas

  • Intimate Hotel Place
  • Stop
  • Nutritious
  • The Fancy
  • Downtown
  • The Poor Gourmet
  • Tinned Nutritious Collective
  • Shabby Dining Compartment
  • Spicy Meals Place
  • Discerning
  • The Fine
  • Foodstuffs Pro
  • Favourite Forage
  • Wonderful Cuisine Place
  • Juggernaut Restaurant
  • Meals Group
  • Finder Diner
  • The Wise Cafe
  • The Grand
  • The Greek
  • Outdoor
  • Nutrition Group
  • Better Foodstuff
  • NightRestaurant
  • Down Bar Pro
  • The Indian
  • Coffeehouse Pro
  • Class
  • Amazon Restaurant
  • Trendy Bistro
  • Thats the dawn Restaurant
  • Animal
  • Russian Rehabilitation
  • Casual Diner Group
  • GreenFood
  • Coffeehouse Place
  • The Seedy
  • Groceries Collective
  • Adventurous Dining Compartment Spot
  • The Stop
  • Better on Restaurant
  • Frequent Buffet Car
  • Pure Groceries Trading Co
  • AttractiveRestaurant
  • Style Pub
  • Favourite Meat Place
  • Hotel Pro
  • Inexpensive Dining Compartment Collective
  • Fresh Feeds
  • The Hungry
  • Late
  • Discerning Dining
  • Classic
  • DowntownDiner
  • Service Store
  • ElegantRestaurant
  • Dining Compartment Co
  • Cheap Pub Group
  • Run Restorative
  • Fast Fodder
  • Favourite Foodstuffs
  • OldDiner
  • Run Reclamation
  • The Fellow Eatery
  • The Dry
  • Decent
  • The Fashionable Bistro
  • The Insufficient
  • Deli Pro
  • Late Deli Spot
  • Kinder Diner
  • Eating Place Pro
  • Revolving Restorative
  • The Petit
  • Best Hotel Spot
  • SmallRestaurant
  • Excellent Dining Co
  • The Modest Cuisine
  • Free Forage
  • The Necessary Meal
  • Bad
  • LoneDiner
  • The Cozy
  • The Class Diner
  • The Spiritual
  • Primer Diner
  • Vegetarian Gourmet Spot
  • Downtown Dropmeal
  • Male Buffet Car
  • Sufficient Foodstuffs Co
  • Favourite Foodstuff Trading Co
  • Slicer Diner
  • Owned Deli
  • Empty Dining Compartment
  • The Upscale Bistro
  • The Mere
  • The Tiny
  • Run Bistro Place
  • Modest
  • LittleDiner
  • The Hour Deli
  • The Elegant Eating House
  • Cuisine Trading Co
  • Revolving Remediation
  • Male Coffeehouse
  • Dingy Dining Compartment Pro
  • SpiritualFood
  • The Italian
  • Best Eating Place
  • The Down

Cute restaurant name ideas

  • Good
  • Cafe Pro
  • Foodstuff Place
  • The Popular
  • Enough Nutrient Collective
  • Hotel Place
  • The Abundant Groceries
  • Much Foodstuffs Collective
  • Fresh Forage
  • Chic Cuisine Collective
  • PrincipalFood
  • Revolving Rest
  • Wiser Diner
  • CasualDiner
  • Local
  • Favorite Foraging
  • Meals Spot
  • The Quaint Coffeehouse
  • Biter Diner
  • FashionedDiner
  • Nylon Restaurant
  • Discerning Dining Compartment
  • Discriminating Dining Room
  • The Natural
  • Stop Bar Collective
  • Abundant Foodstuffs Collective
  • The Surplus
  • The More
  • Grand Eatery Co
  • ExcellentFood
  • The Solid
  • Adventurous Pub Group
  • Busy Eating Place
  • Elegant Store
  • Nearest Buffet Car Pro
  • Downtown Dining Car
  • Elegant Bar
  • Restaurant Spot
  • The Plant
  • Liquid Meals Pro
  • The Free Nutritious
  • PleasantRestaurant
  • FavoriteDiner
  • Upscale Dining Trading Co
  • Little Restaurant
  • Diver Diner
  • The Russian Bar
  • Hour Deli Pro
  • Response Restaurant
  • Cold
  • Gourmet Co
  • The Finest
  • Revolving Rehabilitation
  • Busy Cafe Collective
  • Climber Diner
  • Debutantes Restaurant
  • ColdFood
  • Dingy Dropmeal
  • The Style Dining Car
  • Grocery Collective
  • Discriminating Dining Compartment
  • DecentFood
  • The Style Diner
  • Resort Restaurant
  • Famous Deli Spot
  • Average Eatery Place
  • ModestRestaurant
  • The Rich
  • Bistro Co
  • Greek Store
  • Fryer Diner
  • Groceries Co
  • Parking lot Restaurant
  • Transport Restaurant
  • Come on Restaurant
  • The Tiny Store
  • Authentic Dining Compartment Co
  • Pub Collective
  • Fashionable Bar Group
  • Biker Diner
  • Nutrition Pro
  • Casual Restaurant Pro
  • SuitableFood
  • Night Deli Collective
  • Popular Deli
  • Russian Restauration
  • Run Remediation
  • The Hot
  • The Style Cuisine
  • Russian Reclamation
  • The Enough Groceries
  • Deli Spot
  • Weimar Diner
  • Coffeehouse Spot
  • Old-timer Diner
  • The Little Bar
  • The Run Dining
  • Fine
  • Discerning Deli
  • The Sweet Gourmet
  • Fast Fresh
  • Less Meal Trading Co
  • Ordinary Meal Group
  • The Natural Meal
  • The Lonely
  • The Sufficient
  • Downtown Deli
  • Cafe Collective
  • Frozen Meal
  • Downtown Delicatessen

Clever restaurant name ideas

  • Fast Feeds
  • The Frequent
  • Survivor Diner
  • Petit
  • FreeFood
  • MoreFood
  • Favorite Fresh
  • ItalianRestaurant
  • Much
  • Liquid Groceries Pro
  • Organic Groceries Place
  • Vietnamese Bistro
  • Buffet Car Trading Co
  • Alzheimer Diner
  • Poor
  • GreasyDiner
  • Solid Meal
  • The Little
  • Finest Deli
  • Store Co
  • Frozen Foodstuff
  • The Warm
  • Raw
  • Downtown Bistro Pro
  • Known Cafe
  • NaturalFood
  • Prospective Restaurant
  • The Injudicious Eatery
  • Top Diner Spot
  • LocalRestaurant
  • Dining Co
  • FreshFood
  • TopRestaurant
  • Airport Restaurant
  • Petit Eatery Co
  • TypicalDiner
  • The Kosher Meal
  • Regular
  • Eatery Group
  • LittleFood
  • Romantic Restoration
  • Quiet Store
  • Necessary Gourmet Place
  • Crowded Restaurant Group
  • Class Bar Spot
  • Croissants Restaurant
  • Favourite Nutrition
  • Fast Feed
  • Eating Place Co
  • The Pure Nutrient
  • ClassRestaurant
  • The Vegetarian
  • The Average
  • The Favorite Diner
  • MaleDiner
  • Typical
  • The Petit Dining Compartment
  • Nourishing Meat
  • OnlyDiner
  • The Prospective Bar
  • Nearby Dining
  • Discriminating Dropmeal
  • Astronaut Restaurant
  • Posh Bistro Pro
  • Casual Hotel
  • Favorite Groceries Group
  • Discriminating
  • Russian Restored
  • The Prepared Nutrient
  • The Posh
  • Attractive Cuisine Collective
  • Discriminating Dining
  • Cheap Nutrition Group
  • Pentagon Restaurant
  • Run Deli Pro
  • Fancy Cuisine Co
  • Favourite Feed
  • Spiritual
  • The Empty Hotel
  • Charming Diner Trading Co
  • Cheap Cafe Pro
  • Sweet Foodstuff
  • The Bad
  • Fine Feeding
  • The Small
  • Bar Place
  • Vegetarian Eating House Place
  • Spoon
  • Abundant
  • Undigested Foodstuff Group
  • OwnFood
  • Best Grocery Pro
  • The Stainless
  • The Suitable
  • Old Pub Co
  • MuchFood
  • Local Bar
  • Excellent
  • The Nutritious Foodstuff
  • Natural Nutritious
  • Classic Deli Collective
  • The French
  • Solid
  • Cozy Cuisine Co
  • The Free
  • EmptyRestaurant
  • Crayons Restaurant
  • Meat Co
  • Bistro Place
  • Tinned Nutrition Group

Best restaurant name ideas

  • Pub Spot
  • LessFood
  • Charming
  • FancyRestaurant
  • Fashioned Restaurant
  • The Fresh
  • Fashionable Cuisine Group
  • NearestDiner
  • The Green
  • Apricot Restaurant
  • The Discriminating
  • Frozen Foraging
  • The Petit Eatery
  • Revolving Restored
  • The Fast
  • The Top
  • SmallDiner
  • Small
  • Class Bar Collective
  • Tiny
  • A lot Restaurant
  • Solitary Bistro
  • StopDiner
  • The Night
  • Italian
  • The Undigested Nutrition
  • Cold Nutrition Place
  • The Favourite
  • Deli Trading Co
  • Driver Diner
  • The Prospective
  • Dingy Dinner
  • Favorite
  • The Decent Bar
  • Buffet Car Collective
  • Cafe Trading Co
  • Down
  • OutdoorRestaurant
  • Spoon Buffet Car Co
  • Cafe Co
  • Bistro Collective
  • Frozen Feeding
  • Known Cuisine
  • Fashionable
  • Tinned
  • Ingested Nutritious
  • The Authentic Buffet Car
  • ProspectiveDiner
  • Outdoor Eating Place Spot
  • Eatery Collective
  • Nutrition Place
  • Raw Foodstuff Place
  • Surplus
  • The Star
  • Fresh Feed
  • Free Feeds
  • The Decent Nutrition
  • Hot Nutritious
  • Hexagon Restaurant
  • Frozen Feed
  • The Hungry Dining Car
  • LittleRestaurant
  • Exclusive Cuisine Co
  • Run Dining Pro
  • Wonderful Cafe
  • The Discerning
  • CoarseFood
  • The Cozy Bistro
  • Dining Compartment Trading Co
  • Healthy Nutrient
  • PopularRestaurant
  • Headstrong Restaurant
  • Popular Diner Co
  • Quaint Eatery
  • Down Dropmeal
  • Rich Foodstuff Collective
  • The Much Foodstuffs
  • WholesomeFood
  • Nearest Pub Co
  • Available
  • SpicyFood
  • The Wholesome Meals
  • Dining Car Trading Co
  • The Favorite
  • Expensive Dining
  • SeedyDiner
  • Floor Cuisine Collective
  • Dingy Dinnertime
  • The Regular
  • Floor Dining
  • The Frozen Nutritious
  • The Chief
  • Upscale
  • The Crowded
  • Proper Meal Pro
  • Popular
  • The Run
  • Frozen Fodder
  • Romantic Restauration
  • The Wonderful
  • Crowded
  • Nutritious Foodstuffs Co
  • The Necessary
  • The Class
  • Nutrient Place
  • The Busy
  • The Oldest
  • Vegetarian
  • Meal Place
  • The Vietnamese

Guide: How To Name Your Business

Why Is Your Business Name Important?

Your business name is one of the single most important pieces to starting a business.

Why?

Because your business name has power.

It reflects your reputation, your mission, values, and represents what people (and customers) are searching for.

It impacts the way in which people remember, refer you, and perceive your business

When choosing your business name, there's a lot to think about in order to get it right - so it's important not to rush this process.

Let's take a look at everything you need to consider before deciding on a business name:

Tips To Consider When Naming Your Restaurant:

Simple is always better

This means a few different things. Your restaurant name should always be:

  • Easy to spell
  • Easy to pronounce
  • Easy to remember

Consider avoiding long names as much as possible, as this will only lead your customers forgetting your name and feeling frustrated.

To test this point, try to think of any well-known reputable brand off the top of your head.

The first that come to mind for me are Alexa, Google, Nike, Apple - each unique in their own way (hence, easy to remember) , less than six characters and easy to spell.

Your Business Name Should Define What You Do

The name of your business should reflect a defining characteristic of what you do.

Before your customer goes to your website or speaks to you, the name of your business should spark some initial thoughts in their brain as to what you're all about.

For example, marketingexamples.com describes exactly what their company is about: providing great examples of marketing tactics.

Consider SEO When Naming Your Business

Bottom line: If you don't show up in google, you're going to make it that much more challenging for customers to find you.

There are several different aspects to think about when it comes to SEO & naming your restaurant:

  • Try not to pick a business name that's crowded with other businesses
  • Consider naming your business based on highly searched keywords
  • Make sure the name of your business matches search intent and what people are looking for

Think about the emotions you want to evoke

Your business name has the power to evoke certain emotions and thoughts from your customer.

It has the ability to evoke a positive or a negative feeling. An inclusive or an exclusive feeling. A fearful or a loving feeling.

It's not to say that any of these feelings are wrong, but it's important to ensure that they are in line with your values and mission.

For example, the brand Death's Door makes me feel a bit risky and uncertain - but that's the point. They're selling Gin.

Try Not To Pick Something Too Limiting

Your business name should be fitting for the future and growth of your business, that way you don't have to confront a re-brand down the road.

If you choose something too narrow, it may be challenging to diversify your product and revenue streams down the road.

Here are some tips to avoid making this mistake:

  • Try not to name the business after a particular geographical area (this makes it hard to grow in other areas)
  • Try not to name the business after only one product you sell
  • Try not to name something based on a current trend

Brainstorming Names For Your Business

If you're in the brainstorming phase and trying to come up with a business name, there are a few key things to think about in order to get the juices flowing:

  • Write out a list of words that reflect your brand, personality, team etc. These should be the first things that come to your mind and you shouldn't have to think too hard about it.
  • Look at competition in the space and see if there's a common theme. Write down some key words or phrases that resonate with you and add them to the list.
  • Think about the emotion you want to evoke with your business name
  • Ask yourself: If I had to describe my business in one word, what would it be?

From there, you can create a shortlist based on the words that resonate best with you and follow the naming guidelines above.

Tips on naming your business

In addition to the requirements from the State, there are some general naming guidelines that may help you down the road as well.

We've put together a full guide here for naming your business here but will also cover the most critical pieces below:

Is your URL available? Social media handles?

You can check for domain availability here:

Find a domain starting at $0.88

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As soon as you resonate with a name (or names), secure the domain and social media handles as soon as possible to ensure they don't get taken.

Other general naming tips

  • Consider SEO when naming your business
  • Consider naming your business something that reflects what you do and/or who you are
  • Keep it simple! Easy to spell, easy to pronounce and easy to remember
  • Try not to pick something too limiting that could impact your businesses growth in the future!

Check out our full naming guide here.

Here is a video covering all factors to consider when naming your LLC:

Examples of Great Business Names

When choosing a business name, it's critical that you look at other examples of businesses not only in your space, but business names in other industries that have done particularly well.

Here are a few examples of great business names (+ how some of these businesses came up with their name):

Competitor Analysis Example

One great way to name your business is by looking at the competition and getting inspiration.

Gia Paddock, founder of Boutique Rye analyzed other businesses in the space and added her own personal spin to her business name:

A popular national brick & mortar women’s boutique that many may have heard of is called Francesca’s… How original, right? So we came up with Boutique Rye named after our son, Riley. We put "boutique" in front to be a little different.

The name "Boutique Rye" checks the boxes for naming a business:

  • Short and simple
  • Easy to spell and easy to remember
  • Clearly defines what the company does
  • Optimized for SEO (people searching for boutiques)
  • Unique and personal touch - tells a story.

Ask Other People

Sometimes, coming up with a name is as easy as asking other people, whether that be friends, family, people at a coffee shop, or in Spyq Sklar case, his own customer!

How we came up with the name Cat Sushi:

So, we put together a quick business plan and set aside some money that we were willing to risk. One of our loyal customers actually came up with the name. We still give them free cat food.

Read the full story ➡️ here

The name "Cat Sushi" checks all the boxes for naming a business:

  • Memorable and funny
  • Short and simple
  • Obvious that they sell treats for cats
  • Fun & unique story - their customer literally came up with the name of their business!

The Amazon Example

Formerly called "Cadabra", Jeff Bezos decided that the name was too obscure, hard to spell, and easy to misinterpret.

The name Amazon came from a simple dictionary search .

Jeff Bezos wanted something that started with an A, looked through a dictionary and came up with the word Amazon.

When he told his team, he didn't care for anyone else's input. He was set on it.

Here's how the word "Amazon" checks all the boxes (aside from being worth a trillion dollars):

  • Represents the largest river in the world, making it very memorable
  • The story and meaning of the word matches the vision of the company: To be the larger and better than any other business!
  • The name allows for future growth opportunity - they didn't name something specific to just "books," even though at the time, that's what it was.
  • Easy to spell, pronounce and recommend!

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.