What kinds of startup names exist and which type should I pick?

The short answer

Names fall into buckets: descriptive (Dropbox), invented (Kodak), and evocative (Amazon). Descriptive is easiest to understand but hardest to trademark; invented is ownable but needs marketing to give it meaning. As a first-timer, lean toward a short, real or near-real word that hints at the vibe, don't out-clever yourself.

Go deeper, your way

2 hand-picked resources, 2 link-checked. Pick how you want to dig in.

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it A tight, example-driven breakdown of naming approaches from one of the best practical marketing writers online, memorable and immediately usable.

Four (not boring) ways to name a new product

From Marketing Examples by Harry Dry 5 min read

Personify it with a human name, or name it what people say when they use it
Pull out an adjective, or name it after the job to be done
Concrete, sayable names beat abstract 'meaningful' ones

Open marketingexamples.com →

📄 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.

How to come up with a brand name: the ultimate guide

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 →

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