Creative naming

Creative Naming

Constrained models name everything the same way: Taskly, SmartNotes, GetFlow, DataHub, AI-Anything. Competent, forgettable, and usually already taken. This skill forces distinctive, ownable names.

Step 1 — Extract the essence

One line each: what it does · who it's for · the feeling it should evoke · 5–10 seed words (the domain, a metaphor, the benefit, the emotion). You name from the seeds, not from thin air.

Generate across SEVERAL techniques (don't stop at the first)

• Evocative metaphor — a concrete image that captures the feeling (Stripe, Glacier, Anchor).
• Coined / invented word — blend or alter roots into something ownable (Spotify, Zillow).
• Classical / mythological root — Latin/Greek for gravitas (Nike, Aegis, Lumen, Corvus).
• Borrowed foreign word — a fitting word from another language (Hulu, Miro, Audi).
• Oblique real word — an everyday word used unexpectedly (Apple, Slack, Notion, Arc).
• Portmanteau / juxtaposition — two ideas fused (Pinterest, Snowflake, Microsoft).
• Phonetics-first — short, punchy mouthfeel; plosives + open vowels read confident.

Generate 15–20, then cut. Quantity first, judgment second.

Evaluate the shortlist

• Memorable & pronounceable on first read? Spell-able after hearing it once?
• Distinctive in the space — not a near-clone of competitors?
• Ownable — no awkward acronym, no unfortunate substring, no bad meaning in another language?
• Extensible — works as a brand and product line, not just one feature?
• Mascot/visual potential — can it become a logo or character? (Strong brands often can.)

Availability — check BEFORE committing

• Domain: .com first, then strong alternates. If a domains_check_availability / domains_suggest tool is configured (e.g. the GoDaddy MCP), use it; otherwise check manually.
• Sanity-check social handles and run a trademark search in the relevant class.

Banned patterns — reject on sight

-ly / -ify suffixes · Smart- / AI- / Get- / e- prefixes · generic Hub / HQ / Labs / Cloud tails · literal-descriptive compounds (TaskManagerPro) · anything you've already proposed for a different product this session.