Domain Name Generators Are Doing It Wrong

You need a domain name. You type "focus" into a domain name generator. Back comes Focusify, Focusable, Focusix, FocusNest, GetFocus, MyFocus, FocusPro.

None of these are good. They all sound the same. They're forgettable. They scream "I used a generator."

The Problem With Generated Names

Domain name generators work by mashing syllables together. They take your keyword and add prefixes, suffixes, or combine it with other words. The result is algorithmic noise.

These generated names suffer from three problems:

First, they're hard to remember. When someone hears "Wordify" at a conference, they'll forget it by the time they get home. Was it Wordify? Wordable? Wordly? All these generated variants blur together.

Second, they're hard to spell. Is it Focusify or Focusize? Does it have one 's' or two? Generated names create uncertainty. Every time someone tries to type your domain, there's friction.

Third, they sound like every other startup from 2015. The -ify, -able, -ly suffix pattern is exhausted. So is the Get-, My-, Go- prefix pattern. These names don't differentiate. They blend into the background.

Why Real Words Work Better

Apple. Slack. Notion. Linear. Stripe. All real words. All instantly recognizable. All easy to remember and spell.

Real dictionary words have built-in advantages:

They're familiar. People already know how to spell "apple." There's no cognitive load. No uncertainty. You hear it once, you remember it.

They carry meaning. Even if that meaning isn't directly related to your product, it creates associations. "Slack" suggests looseness, casualness, informality. Perfect for a chat app trying to be less formal than email.

They sound natural. When someone recommends your product, "Try Notion" sounds normal. "Try Notionify" sounds weird.

They're brandable. It's easier to build a brand around a word that already exists in people's vocabulary. You're not asking them to learn a new word. You're asking them to associate an existing word with your product. The best brandable domain names are often the simplest: real words that everyone already knows.

The False Assumption

The standard objection: "All the good real-word domains are taken."

This is wrong. Or at least, incomplete.

Yes, most common English words are taken on .com. But there are 40+ TLDs worth considering. Real words are available on .io, .ai, .co, .app, .dev, and dozens more.

And English isn't the only language. Spanish, German, French, Portuguese — these languages have thousands of available dictionary words that work perfectly fine for English-speaking markets. "Jardín" (garden), "Schnell" (fast), "Lumière" (light). These are real words. They're memorable. They're available.

Then there are prefix and suffix patterns. Not the garbage generator patterns like -ify, but natural ones. "Unbound," "Overcast," "Daybreak." These combine real words or real word parts in ways that feel natural, not algorithmic.

The Better Approach

Instead of generating random mashups, browse databases of available real words.

This is what Vacant Domains does. It indexes dictionary words across multiple languages and 40+ TLDs. You can filter by word length, TLD, language, or search for specific patterns. You're not getting algorithmic output. You're browsing real words that happen to be available.

The difference in results is stark. A generator gives you variations on your keyword with predictable suffixes and prefixes. A database of real words gives you synonyms, related concepts, and metaphors — words that already exist in the dictionary and don't sound algorithmic.

When Generators Make Sense

There are valid use cases for made-up words. Spotify, Hulu, Zillow — these are invented words that worked because they sound good and are easy to remember.

But even successful made-up names usually have structure. "Spotify" combines "spot" and "-ify." "Hulu" is based on a Mandarin phrase. They're not random syllables.

If you want a made-up word, start with a real word root. Modify it slightly. Add or remove a letter. Combine two short real words. This is better than pure randomness.

The key difference: intentional modification of real words versus algorithmic generation. One produces names like "Figma" (sounds like "sigma," feels purposeful). The other produces "Figmify."

Stop Generating, Start Browsing

Domain name generators solve the wrong problem. They assume you need to create a new word. Usually, you don't.

You need a memorable word. A word people can spell. A word that doesn't sound like every other startup.

Real dictionary words do all of this better than generated mashups. And despite what you've heard, they're not all taken. You just need to look beyond .com and beyond English.

Browse instead of generate. Filter instead of randomize. Start with real words and only resort to invention when you have a specific reason.

Your brand will be better for it.