Domain Name Ideas: A Framework for Finding the Right Name

Finding a domain name isn't about getting lucky. It's about understanding the patterns that make names work, then applying them systematically.

Most great brand names fall into six categories. Each has different strengths. Understanding these categories helps you generate better ideas faster.

Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns convey feelings and concepts without being literal. Notion. Clarity. Ember. Drift. Asana.

These names work because they create associations without constraining what your product does. Notion sounds smart and flexible. Ember suggests warmth and persistence. Drift implies smooth movement.

The advantage: your name ages well. When Asana started, they were a task manager. Now they're a full work management platform. The abstract name didn't box them in.

The challenge: abstract nouns are harder to trademark and often already taken as domains. You need creativity to find available ones.

Look for underused abstract nouns in specialized domains. Philosophy terms. Obscure emotions. Scientific concepts. Music theory. Each field has its own vocabulary of abstract terms.

Action Verbs

Verbs imply motion and results. Slack. Zoom. Dash. Stripe. Browse.

These names tell you what happens when you use the product. Slack suggests looseness and ease. Zoom means speed. Stripe evokes the action of swiping a card.

The advantage: immediate clarity. People grasp what your product does from the name alone. This cuts through noise in crowded markets.

The challenge: finding short, available verbs is difficult. Most single-syllable action verbs are gone.

Focus on verbs with multiple meanings or less common verbs that still feel familiar. "Stripe" works because it's common enough to recognize but uncommon enough to be available. Same with "Slack."

Concrete Nouns as Metaphors

Physical objects used in unexpected contexts. Apple. Amazon. Jaguar. Oracle. Mint.

These names leverage existing associations. Apple suggests simplicity and approachability. Amazon implies vastness. Jaguar means speed and power.

The advantage: instant memorability. Concrete nouns create vivid mental images. They're easier to remember than abstract concepts.

The challenge: the metaphor must feel appropriate. A random object doesn't work. The connection between the object and your brand needs to make sense, even if it's not obvious at first.

Think about objects that embody qualities you want associated with your brand. What physical things represent speed? Simplicity? Reliability? Growth? Once you identify the quality, you can find objects that embody it.

Foreign Words

Words from other languages that sound good in English but aren't widely known. Audi (Latin for "hear"). Lego (Danish for "play well"). Hulu (Mandarin for "holder of precious things").

These names feel exotic and sophisticated while remaining pronounceable. They often avoid trademark conflicts because they're not common English words.

The advantage: built-in uniqueness. Foreign words stand out while still feeling legitimate.

The challenge: pronunciation confusion and unintended meanings. Always check what your chosen word means in major languages. You don't want to discover your name means something offensive in Spanish or French.

Keep it simple. One or two syllables. Easy to spell after hearing it once. The foreignness should add flavor, not create barriers.

Modified Real Words

Real words with prefixes or suffixes added. Shopify. Spotify. Zapier. Grammarly. Duolingo.

This approach takes familiar words and makes them unique through small changes. Usually by adding -ify, -ly, Get-, Try-, or -HQ.

The advantage: feels familiar while being trademarkable. People recognize the root word, so they grasp meaning quickly. But the modification makes it ownable.

The challenge: it can feel gimmicky if overused. The modifier needs to add meaning, not just make the word different. "Shopify" works because -ify suggests transformation. "Grammarly" works because -ly reinforces the idea of doing something properly.

Common patterns: -ify (make it happen), Get- (acquire it), -ly (in this manner), -HQ (the place for it), Try- (test it out). Pick modifiers that reinforce your value proposition.

Compound Words

Two simple words combined into one. Mailchimp. Snapchat. Dropbox. Facebook. LinkedIn.

Compound names tell a story in two words. Mailchimp combines email marketing with the unexpected playfulness of a chimp. Dropbox describes exactly what it does through two common words.

The advantage: descriptive while remaining brandable. Each word is simple, but together they create something new.

The challenge: finding combinations that aren't already taken and don't sound generic. "EmailSender" is a compound word, but it's terrible branding.

Look for unexpected combinations. One word should be obvious (what you do), the other should add personality or context. Mailchimp: obvious function, unexpected personality. Snapchat: obvious platform, snappy action.

Applying the Framework

Don't just pick your favorite category and stick with it. Different categories work better for different contexts.

B2B software often benefits from abstract nouns or modified words. They sound professional. Consumer apps can afford to be more playful with compound words or concrete metaphors.

Your process should look like this:

Pick 2-3 categories that match your brand personality. If you're building serious enterprise software, skip the playful compounds. If you're making a consumer social app, lean into concrete metaphors and compound words.

Within each category, generate 20-30 ideas. Don't filter yet. Just brainstorm. Use a thesaurus. Browse specialized vocabularies. Look at foreign language dictionaries. Search through available domains on Vacant Domains to see what patterns are actually available in your chosen categories.

Then check availability. You need to quickly filter through dozens of ideas to find what's actually available.

Narrow to 5-10 available names. Now evaluate them properly. Say them out loud. Test them with people who don't know your product. Check for unintended meanings or pronunciations.

Pick your top 3 and sit with them for a few days. The right name often reveals itself through this process. Your gut will tell you which one fits.

The best domain name ideas come from systematic exploration, not random inspiration. This framework gives you the structure to generate strong candidates, check what's actually available, and choose the name that fits.

Start with categories. Generate ideas within those categories. Filter for availability. Then choose based on fit. That's how you find a name that works.