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Naming your startup & domains
Brand, web & content
Should I buy a premium domain or just use a cheaper workaround?
The short answer
At pre-revenue, don't drop lakhs on a premium domain, a clean workaround domain (tryX, getX, X-hq) costs a few hundred rupees and you can upgrade later once you have traction and cash. The one exception: if a squatter owns the exact name you're building a brand around, lock it up before you invest in marketing it.
Go deeper, your way
2 hand-picked resources, 1 link-checked. Pick how you want to dig in.
📄 Article
✓ Link checked
Free
Beginner
Why we picked it
A structured, practical walkthrough from a reputable product team covering name types, domain checks, and trademark basics in one place.
From
Webflow Blog
by Webflow Team
12 min read
Understand descriptive vs invented vs evocative name types and their trade-offs
Check domain and social handle availability before committing
Run a trademark knockout search early to avoid legal dead-ends
Open
webflow.com →
Why we picked it
Paul Graham's short, opinionated take on naming from someone who has seen thousands of startups, canonical, no-fluff, and free.
From
paulgraham.com
by Paul Graham
8 min read
A name should be easy to say and spell, avoid clever misspellings
The product makes the name good, not the reverse
Don't over-invest time here; ship and let the name grow into itself
Open
paulgraham.com →
People also ask
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Pick a name you can spell out loud once and have someone type correctly. Short, easy to say, and not a clever misspelling beats 'meaningful but con...
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What kinds of startup names exist and which type should I pick?
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Most iconic names started as jokes, placeholders, or happy accidents, not committee outputs, the product earned the name meaning. Look at how India...
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How do I check if a startup name is already taken before I fall in love with it?
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Also in How Founders Use AI
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