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Naming your startup is not easy. A bad name can greatly hinder your growth, but you also don't want to overthink it and distract you from building a relevant product (if you don't have a product, there's nothing to name).
At nowthen, our go-to method for naming products, companies, or features is based on the approach outlined by Alexandra Watkins in her book "Hello, My Name is Awesome." She refers to it as the SMILE and SCRATCH method.
In summary, a good name should be evocative, easily memorable, and create a positive feeling. It should not be difficult to pronounce or read, nor require expert knowledge to understand, or be an inside joke.
Our top tip to get there: don’t rush it! Spread out your ideation process over days or even weeks. It’s unlikely that the first batch of ideas will provide you with the perfect one. Then narrow down on a shortlist, and try living with a few names for a while. Put them on mockups, use them in email signatures, and mock social media profiles. See how they feel over time. Names can really grow on you.
If you want a good overview of Watkins’ method and brainstorming techniques, check the book summary linked below. And, of course, if you need even more, get the book, it’s a worthy investment.
