Naming an App Is Harder Than It Looks — 5 Mistakes I Made (and What Worked Instead)

A few months ago, I had to name a new mobile app I was working on.
I thought it would take a day or two — but it turned out to be one of those tasks that look simple until you actually start doing it.

You’re trying to find something that sounds good, fits your brand, isn’t taken, and still works across languages.
I messed up more times than I’d like to admit. Here’s what I learned.

5 mistakes I made

1. The name was already taken.
   Every clever idea I came up with was already an app, domain, or startup.

2. Sounded too close to other brands.
   Users couldn’t remember if it was mine or something else they’d seen.

3. Cultural blind spots.
   One name turned out to mean something awkward in another language. Lesson learned.

4. Terrible for SEO.
   A short, generic name looks clean, but no one can actually find you online.

5. No memory hook.
   The name didn’t stick. Even people who liked the app forgot how to spell it a week later.

How I fixed it

a) Brainstorming with meaning, rhythm, and sound.
I listed words tied to the app’s function, emotional tone, and rhythm — then played with short combinations that felt natural when spoken aloud.

b) Checking duplicates and discoverability.
I searched across App Store, Google Play, domain registrars, and social handles before getting attached to anything.

c) Thinking internationally.
Every finalist went through a “language sanity check” — pronunciation, cultural references, slang, etc.

The final name

In the end, I picked a two-syllable word that was easy to say, unique enough to rank on App Store search, and had an available domain.
It didn’t come from sudden inspiration — it came from testing, comparing, and crossing off 50+ bad options.

If you want a full framework

I wrote a complete guide on how to name an app — including templates, validation steps, and naming tools I actually used:
👉 How to Name an App — Complete Guide

Your turn

If you’ve named an app (or are trying to):

• What’s the hardest part for you?

• Any name you still can’t decide on?

Drop it below — I’d love to trade notes.