Article · 12 min read

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

Webflow Team · Webflow Blog Free Beginner

A structured, practical walkthrough from a reputable product team covering name types, domain checks, and trademark basics in one place.

  • 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
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It answers 5 questions

  1. How do I come up with a good name for my startup?
  2. Do I really need a .com domain, or is .io / .co / .in fine?
  3. What kinds of startup names exist and which type should I pick?
  4. How do I check if a name is legally free to use in India (trademark)?
  5. Should I buy a premium domain or just use a cheaper workaround?

Read with it

  1. Paul Graham's short, opinionated take on naming from someone who has seen thousands of startups, canonical, no-fluff, and free. paulgraham.com Article · 8 min read Startup Names Paul Graham
  2. A tight, example-driven breakdown of naming approaches from one of the best practical marketing writers online, memorable and... Marketing Examples Article · 5 min read Four (not boring) ways to name a new product Harry Dry
  3. The official Indian government registry to run a free trademark knockout search before you commit to a name, the primary... Government of India (ipindia.gov.in) Tool · Tool Public Trademark Search, IP India Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks
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