Did you know…
- Kodak got its name because the founder thought the letter K sounded strong and incisive?
- Lego comes from the Danish “leg godt” which means “play well?”
- WD-40 was named so because the formula was finally successful on its 40th try?
My point is, you do NOT need a business name generator to come up with a creative name for your business.
I rest my case.
I know I know, pet businesses are easy for creative names. But creative doesn’t have to mean funny. It just has to have character.
So in this post, I’ll be sharing over 200 business names ideas and examples to help you come up with business names that are catchy, personal, cryptic, thought-provoking, bold, and more.
About this business name ideas list
The examples accompanying each idea are real business names, so use them only as inspiration. See the end of the post for ways to check for business name availability in your state and the U.S.
Here are the categories of business name ideas this post covers:
- Creative business name ideas
- Unique business name ideas
- Catchy business name ideas
- Smart business name ideas
- Small business name ideas
- Marketing company name ideas
- Media company name ideas
- Consulting company name ideas
- Technologies company name ideas
- Security company name ideas
And don’t miss my guide on how to come up with a business name—complete with mistakes to avoid, even more ideas, and how to register your name officially.
Creative business name ideas
There are so many ways to be creative with your business name. Here are just a few business name ideas to start us off:
Use (or make up) words associated with your industry
Think about adjectives that describe your customers or how they want to feel as a result of your products or services. For example, “intrepid” means fearless and adventurous—a good name for a travel company!
Here are some creative business name ideas that do just that:
- Percepta (security)
- Exela Movers
- Ibotta, Inc. (consumer services)
- Wanderu (hospitality & tourism)
- Aceable, Inc. (online learning)
- Intrepid Travel
- Defendify (security)(Plus, how freaking fun is this word to say?)
- Twisters Gymnastics Academy
- Aims Community College
- Kaboom Fireworks
- Compass Mortgage
- Marathon Physical Therapy
- Semicolon Bookstore
💡 Looking for more creative ideas? Try these 30 Ways to Promote Your Business (With or Without Money)!
Use an idiom, adage, or common phrase
We claim to hate cliches, but our brains inherently trust that with which it is familiar, so this isn’t a bad way to go. Plus, not all common phrases are annoying cliches. Try out idioms, famous quotes or lyrics, or just small bits from them.
Here are some creative business name examples using this tip:
- 9Yards Media
- When Pigs Fly (food)
- Light As a Feather (health and beauty)
- More Than Words (retail)
- Top It Off (fashion)
- Bent Out of Shape Jewelry
- To Each Their Own, LLC (beauty salon)
- Like You Mean It Productions
- What You Will Yoga
- EBA’s (Everything But Anchovies)
- Soft As a Grape (clothing and retail)
Go for something epic
There are tons of characters in history and entertainment that signify traits or qualities you may want associated with your business.
Here are some epic business name examples:
- Atlantis Sports Club & Spa
Atlantis is a legendary utopian civilization. - Saga Innovations
A saga is a long story of heroic achievement. - Atlas Ventures
Atlas is the Greek god of endurance and strength - Titan alarm
- Jarvis Surgical
J.A.R.V.I.S is Just a Rather Very Intelligent System, a character in Marvel movies..
Then again, Jarvis is also a name that translates to “spear man” which also works… (Image source)
Catchy business name ideas
Catchy business names are easy and fun to say and stick well in peoples’ memories. Here are some ideas on how to come up with a business name that rolls off the tongue and plants itself in the brain.
Combine words
There are ample ways to be clever here. Just make sure that the word combo is actually easy and intuitive to say, and doesn’t just look good written out. For example, ValiDaTEk is clever (validate + technology), but is it “va-LID-a-tek” or “val-i-DAY-tek”? These are micro interruptions that can subconsciously deter someone from referring or even contacting your business.
Here are some catchy business names using combined words:
- Groupon
- Influitive
- Spinfluence
- Intellivision
- Perficient (proficient, perfect, efficient)
- Omnilert
- Technologent
- Securiteam
- Innometrics
Give it a rhyme
Want to know another copywriting psychology fun fact? The cognitive fluency of a piece of content influences how true or trustworthy the reader perceives it to be. And we all know how fluent rhyming words read (and get remembered). Try out these catchy business name ideas:
- Puzzle Huddle
- 7Eleven
- Hobby Lobby
- The Knickknack Shack
- Los Amigos Taqueria
- Plan4Demand
- Chic Boutique Consignments
- ElemenOPillows
The best part of the alphabet.
Try out alliteration
Alliteration is another easy way to come up with a cognitively fluent and catchy business name. Here are some alliterative examples for you:
- Clickety Clack (game store)
- Horizons for Homeless Children
- Superscapes
- The Tiny Tassel
- Mighty Mule (security)
- Decorating Den Interiors
- Encore Electric, Inc.
- Beet Box Cafe
Unique business name ideas
“Creative” and “unique” are interchangeable adjectives, but for the sake of this post, I’m allotting this category of business name ideas to those of eccentric nature.
Go for colors, animals, or fresh produce
I’m not even kidding here. It would seem as though any combination of animals, colors, and organic matter is game for a business name—even if the name gives no indication of the business type.
Here are some unique business name ideas:
- Arctic Wolf Neworks, Inc (cyber security)
- The Zebra (car insurance comparison website)
- Purple Mango (this is the name for a cafe, a skincare and laser office, and a media company)
- Blue Kite Web Solutions LLC
- The Maroon Door (restaurant)
- Unchained Carrot (marketing)
- The Orange Goat (restaurant)
How to come up with a unique business name: Combine (1) color + (1) animal or plant.
Tap into onomatopoeias
Words that define themselves by their very pronunciation? Prime business name material. Plus, these words usually help indicate what kind of business you are.
For example, try out these unique business name ideas:
- Thump Coffee
- Clink Boston (a bar)
- Clink Inc
- Crunch and Munch (also rhymes!)
- Crunch Fitness (not used as onomatopoeia, but still a fun word!)
- Whoosh Auto Care
- Beep Beep Auto School
- Whizz Kids Tutoring
RELATED: The Best Small Businesses to Start for Every Type of Motivation
Go for something over the top
This all depends on your industry, brand, and personality. For example, using slang or movie titles isn’t going to fly for an insurance company, law firm, or consulting business.
These memorable business name ideas do just that:
- The Breelancers (brie/cheese store)
- Weed Man Lawn Care
- Real Imposters Jewelry
- Kerplunk Portables
- The Codfather
- Indiana Bones and the Temple of Groom
Can you even?
Smart business name ideas
These business names may not be as catchy or creative, but they contain words that are meant to reflect the value proposition or core values of the company. Keep in mind though, that this can put your business under extra scrutiny.
Reflect your core values
This could be a good way to keep your core values at the forefront of your employees’ minds. But again, they’ll also be at the forefront of your customers’ minds too—which can raise expectations. Not saying you can’t meet them—but no business can please everyone.
These are some smart business name examples:
- PrimaCARE (medical)
- Kindness Animal Hospital
- Patient First Chiropractic & Physical Therapy
- Fidelity Investments
- Tenacity (education)
Persistence and stick-to-itness go hand-in-hand with education and career success. (Image source)
Indicate your value proposition
Similarly, you could go with a name that highlights an element of your value proposition. Just remember that unfortunately, there are people out there just waiting to find a reason to to complain. The second someone has a hard time at your EZ Eyecare business, you’ll be sure to hear it from them.
Here are some business name examples that highlight a specific value proposition:
- Bottom Line Tax Services
- B2B Salesify
- Anytime Fitness (24-hour gym)
- Holistic Business Excellence
- One Stop Painting & Renovating
- CustomMade (jewelry)
- EZ Eyecare
- Reliant At Home
- EveryStep (home care)
- 5280 Digital (5280 feet in a mile)
- Siteimprove (websites)
- Forecast5 Analytics
- Five Star Senior Living
Right idea, brave move. (Image source)
Small business names
Most business name ideas can work for any size business, but here are some suggestions geared specifically for small businesses.
Use “people” words
While larger businesses and corporations might end their business name with their product/service (Apex Technologies) or a word with a large connotation (“group,” “corp,” etc.), small businesses can go with more personable “people” words. These often represent the founders or owners of the business.
The following small business name examples are sure to bring you inspiration:
- The Moving Guys
- Sister’s Restaurant
- Ruggiero Brothers Oil
- Angela’s Bridal
- The Tree Fellas
- The Coffee Girl
- The Building People, LLC
- The Wine Guys
The Wine “Company” just wouldn’t have that same small business feel. Image source
Try other languages or synonyms
One way to add a little creativity is to use a family pronoun in another language (if that language is relevant to you personally or your business). You can also use synonyms.
Check out these small business name examples:
- Amigos Barber Shop
- Tatte Bakery
Tatte means grandma in Hebrew. - Zio’s Deli
Zio means uncle in Italian. - Aegis Chiropractic & Physical Therapy
Aegis is another word for the protection, backing, or support of a person or organization. (Image source)
Go for small words
Embrace the smallness of your business! Use words to emphasize small things, or better yet, small things with big power. Here are some business name examples with small words:
- Tiny Rebellion
- Small Giants
- Think Big Work Small
- Small Ax Creative
- Small Potatoes Catering
- Small Dog Creative
- Tiny Legend Learning Academy
Make it known that you’re a small business with big impact. (Image source)
Add local language
Local businesses tend to be more authentic and personable, and consumers are generally inclined to support them. Feel free to amp up your business appeal by using local language in your business name.
Here are some business name examples with local language:
-
- Local Bounti
- Local Roots
- Neighborly Software
- Neighbors Construction
- Nearby Notary LLC
- Local 149
Bonus: 149 is this restaurant’s street address number. (Image source)
Now we’re going to head into some company names for specific industries, including marketing, media, consulting, technologies, and security.
Marketing company names
Marketing company names tend to contain words associated with growth, visibility, and attention.
Here are some marketing company business names to inspire you:
- Growthonics
- ClatterChatter
- Fewofmany
- Volume Nine
- Ignite Visibility
- The Bureau of Small Projects
- Idea Grove
- KickStart Marketing
- Digital Dive Marketing
- She Runs It
- Be Busy Being Awesome Agency
- SmarkLabs
- The Growth Co.
- Creative Juice
- Be Seen Solutions
- Color 9 Creative
- The Invisible Paintbrush
- Obvious Agency
- Brandopedia
- Fill the Gap Marketing Limited
- Empiric Marketing
Empiric means verifiable through observation. (Image source)
Media company names
I learned upon writing this post that media company names are the most eclectic ones out there. There isn’t really a common theme other than the fact that they’re all kinda quirky and fun.
Check out these media company business names for inspiration:
- Webpreneur Media
- Medsnake Media
- Big Honcho Media
- Everglow Media
- Clicky Media
- Vibrant Media
- Fearless Media
- Splash Media
- Velvet Media
- Vertigo Media
- 9Yards Media
- Redsprout Media
- Bluesteak Media
- Weekend Media
- Fork Media
- Idiotic Media
- Tiny Milkshake Media
Because media company.
Consulting company names
Consulting company names tend to contain words associated with foundation, authority, collaboration, impact, achievement, and reward.
Here are some consulting company name examples:
- Acumen
- Affirma
- Answerport
- Archimedes (greek mathemitician)
- Navigate
- Pivotal Resources
- Advisian
- Alliance Solutions Group
- Allied Consultants
- Anchor Advisors
- Catalyst Consulting
- Cognizant
- Collabera
- Data Driven Decisioning
- Delegata
- Diligent Innovations
- Edge Strategies
- Eight Revolution
- Endeavor Partners
- Experience Impact
- Fusion Alliance
- Fresh Squeezed Ideas
- Genesis Consulting
- Ground floor Consulting
- Holistic Business Excellence
- Ilumina Solutions
- Incrementa (un)Consulting
Incrementa uses “unconsulting” as a term to indicate that the client is the real hero. (Image source)
- Innosight
- Integrated Insight
- Optimity
- Perficient
- Plan4Demand
- Proactive Worldwide
- Protiviti
- Sage Consulting
- Sapient
- Swingtide
- Utopia Global
- Visionary Consulting
- The Prize
Technologies company names
Technology company names contain words associated with intelligence, forward-thinking, agility, the ether (air and space), and connectivity.
Here are some examples of good technology company names:
- 2Gig Technologies
- Airbyte
- Alfatek
- Aurora IT
- Axle
- Exacq Technologies
- Excelero
- Evolv Technology
- Gecko Dynamics
- Hello Ace
- Hello Nerds
- Ideas2IT
- Innominds
- Innoometriks Incorporated
- Looking Point
- Let’s Think Wireless
- Matrix Systems
- Nerd Crossing
- Personetics
- Quisitive
After all, as Francis Kingdom Ward puts it, “Questions are creative acts of intelligence.” (Image source)
- Reef Technology (love this one)
- EnableIP
- Converged Communication Systems
- Stratosphere Networks, llc
- ThinkSys
- UniVoIP, Inc
- WeDigTech
- SAGE Integration, Inc.
- Savant Systems LLC
- Scality
- Sparkline
- Technologent
- Plexus
A plexus is a network of nerves and vessels in the body. (Image source)
Security company names
Security company names use words associated with vision, strength, speed, readiness, and instinct. Here are some examples of security company names:
- 3rd Eye Surveillance
- 4Front Engineered Solutions
- ActivIdentity
- Alpha Arseanl LLC
- Bandit Solutions
- Blackbelt Technologies
- BlackHawk Products
- Bombardier
- BrickHouse Security
- BullGuard
Doesn’t get much stronger’nat. (Image source)
- Castle Defense 360
- Champion Alarm Systems, Ltd
- Datawatch Systems
- Deep Instinct
- Deep Sentinel
- Defendify (this is my personal favorite)
- Deterrent Technologies
- Digital Guardian
- Drawbridge
- Eagle Eye Systems
- Eye Spy Security
- FIDO Alliance (Fast Identity Online)
- Fierce Access Distributors LLC
- First Defense
- Fortified
- GateKeeper Security
- Glympse
- Hawkeye Security
- Scorpion Protection
A venomous sting operation? I’ll take it. (Image source)
- Instantly Safe
- Intellicam Systems
- Intellicheck
- Keeper Security, inc.
- KEYper Sytems
- LaserShield
- LiveWatch
- NestLabs
- Nuance Communications, Inc.
- Omnilert
- Orion Networks
- Preventia
- Rapid Security Solutions, LLC
- Reliant Safety
- ReliaQuest
- Safe Haven Security
- Safetrust Inc
- Salient Systems
- Securiteam
- SheildIT
- Silent Sentinel Stealth Monitoring
- Sting Alarm
- Stone Security
- Surety Security
Super catchy, rhymes, and uses alliteration! (Image source)
- Threat Extinguisher
- Tripwire
- Ultrasafe Security Specialists
- Videolarm
- VigilEASE, Inc.
And remember, as mentioned above, these are real business names, so stay away from infringement by checking your business name idea with the US Trademark Checker as well as entity name availablity in your state.
Have any cool business names to add to this list for inspiration? Let us know in the comments!
Meet The Author
Kristen McCormick
Kristen is the Head of Marketing at Hatch, a customer communication platform for service-based businesses. She was previously the Senior Managing Editor at WordStream. Her cat Arnold has double paws on every paw, and she finds life to be exponentially more delightful on a bicycle.
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