How to Name an App in 2023 [Trends, Cases, and Mistakes]

Henn Akimov

Marketer, Startup Advisor

Users pay no more than half-second of attention to your app while scrolling through the app list and moving further. How to create an app name that will sell, catch the eye, and stand out among competitors? 

The optimal app title choice is a crucial part of app store optimization (ASO). A well-chosen app name, icon, and description can stop your user’s scrolling and direct their finger to the download button.

Our guide will explain how to develop an app name that will be searchable, meet the app naming standards in stores, and increase conversion and downloads.

Why Does Your App Name Matter?

Semantics must be considered while choosing an app title. The greatest app names promote branding, direct users to relevant apps, and encourage app downloads. Here’s what a strong app name can do: 

Get Your Google Play and Apple App Store Approval

If you can’t get your app approved first, success for it will be next to impossible. Every year, the Apple App Store alone rejects around one million apps. To prevent rejection and have your app listed promptly, stick to character restrictions and recommended practices for app metadata.

Boost App Downloads

The title of your app is crucial for searchability. Users can conduct keyword searches on the app store just like they would on a web browser. Your ability to appear in searches and spark users’ interest depends on having a catchy, search-optimized title.

Seal the Brand Name

Your app title is your brand, not just a descriptive title. How to name an app that would speak for the brand? Choose the name that reflects the brand’s personality, features, and user experience you’re attempting to create, regardless of whether it’s a stand-alone product or integrated into a bigger organization.

Step-By-Step Guide: How to Name an App in 2023

App naming can be harder than it seems, and knowing how to do it well will set your app apart from competitors. Although “Google” may sound cool today, who would have thought 20 years ago that it would become a term we would hear daily?

But where did you get the idea for the name of your innovative app? How can you create a name as memorable as Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Evernote? Devlight compelled a short list of steps you should follow during your app naming journey to increase your product’s chances of success:

Step 1. Brainstorm App Name Ideas

Remember, you don’t have to put much effort into creating a brilliant name. There is a chance that your target audience won’t get your message if you try to be too clever. It’s best to keep things straightforward at times. For instance, “Mini Games” is probably an excellent option for an app that offers fun games and quizzes on the go. However, brainstorming is not just an intuitive process. It consists of certain practices we are about to describe.

– Reflect Your App’s Core Features

Write a list of words that describe your app as a starting point. These terms can contain emotive language to demonstrate how you wish to affect your audience and descriptive language to showcase your app’s accomplishments.

It’s best to incorporate as many terms as possible when naming an app because then you’ll have more possibilities to work with. Choose a few of the phrases you believe will resonate the most with your product and your target audience from the list you’ve created. Then, start looking up probable synonyms using a thesaurus.

– Keyword Research

You must know your target market’s search volume and behavior to select the appropriate app title. Use ASO research tools like TheTool, AppTweak, or AppRadar to determine the relevance, difficulty, and search volume for the search phrases you anticipate your audience using. Consider including them in your app’s name, subtitle, and descriptions once you have your intended list.

– Competitor Research

Another tip on how to create an app name is to research the competitors. A business leader can serve two purposes from competitor research. The first benefit is the opportunity to examine what other names already impact your sector.

How to name an app keeping the competitors in mind? By observing your competitors, you may identify the brands buyers are already drawn to and find inspiration for yourself. You’ll also gain insight into the types of names you want to set yourself apart from in order to be as distinctive as possible at the same time. 

Secondly, to avoid a knockoff app, be sure to go beyond a quick app store search. Consult a lawyer to ensure that your app title doesn’t infringe on any already-registered copyrights or trademarks, and submit your own trademark application before making your app available for download. Even while you want the name to stand out, you also want it to be simple to spell and pronounce.

– App Name Generators

These are some reasons why app name generators are an excellent source of inspiration:

• Relevance. They can sift through meaningless names and present you with the finest options. You can rely on our mobile app’s name generator to consistently offer relevant and meaningful name suggestions.
• Exclusivity. Naming tools know how to come up with an app name that would follow the standard store requirements but still stand out. They will only make suggestions for names that are highly valuable to your company and that are special and distinctive.
• Availability. It takes time to locate, verify, and register a domain name. Name generators make sure to include a list of potential domain extensions alongside each name recommendation.

Step 2. Check for Availability

A unique and compelling name that captures consumers’ attention is the most important need for anyone looking to create and launch an app. Once you’ve discovered it, you’ll feel immense joy and be able to start everything else. Or not? After the initial app naming stage is over, there is one crucial consideration you should never overlook: what if another app already uses the name? It would be inconvenient. Here are some steps you can take to check if a name is available:

• Search the App Store. Start by searching for the name in the App Store and Google Play Store to see if any apps already exist with the same or similar name. If there are, it’s best to choose a different name to avoid confusion.
• Check domain names: Ensure the name you want is available as a domain name by searching on websites like GoDaddy, Bluehost, or Namecheap. If the domain name is taken, it may indicate that the name is already in use by another company or individual.
• Check social media platforms: Check if the name you want is already taken on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If it’s taken, it may suggest that someone is already using the name for their brand or product.
• Perform a trademark search: Conduct a trademark search using the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database or international trademark databases to ensure that the name you want to use is not already trademarked or registered by another entity.

Step 3. Test the Name

The process of naming an app doesn’t end after choosing and checking the name either. Now is the time for testing! Create a landing page, conduct surveys, and apply user interviews. Also, when testing company names on real people, don’t forget to include a brief description of the company in your survey. It’s typically a good idea to briefly express your business’s objective unless it’s evident what it does (for example, John’s Insurance Company). Respondents will be more likely to comprehend what your company name aims to achieve with a short, straightforward explanation.

To receive proper feedback on users’ general associations with your brand name, check how they perceive the spelling and pronunciation as well. Names whose pronunciations aren’t obvious aren’t necessarily bad. For instance, the ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs invented its name entirely to be “Danish-sounding,” even though true Danish never uses an umlaut (the accent over the a) and would never put the letters z and s next to each other.

Nevertheless, not knowing how to pronounce something can also be a turn-off to customers. Tests help you research how to create an app name that will suit your target audience. Keep these three simple ideas in mind at all times when testing:

• Your app’s name must be appropriate. Don’t pick a name for your app that is so original that it has nothing to do with its features or goal.
• Use only standard characters. Hyphens, dashes, etc., are unnecessary—unless you’re using them to divide your app name from its description that isn’t part of the brand name anyway.
• Watch out for obscene language. Curse words, sexual allusions, and derogatory language typically perform poorly in app stores.

Step 4. Finalize the Name

Spend some time analyzing the data throughout the testing process, not just when you believe you’re almost done. To learn why people voted the way they did and what appealed to or turned them off of your brand name, look at the main demographics of respondents that make sense for your business or product. Test again and again, if necessary.

If you wonder how to come up with an app name that will make you stand out, the final tip here is through the testing. Every decision in modern product development should be based on testing and iterative changes. This is especially true with naming an app. The better name you choose for your company, the earlier you acquire and implement the practices that will raise your conversion and make people stick to your brand.

Tools for App Naming

Choosing a name for a mobile application can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are several tools available to help you make the right decision. Here are a few:

Name generators

Online tools such as NameMesh, Namify, and Namelix can help generate ideas for app names based on keywords or other criteria. These tools use algorithms to create unique and memorable names that are relevant to your app’s niche.

Thesaurus and dictionary

Thesaurus.com and dictionary websites like Merriam-Webster can provide synonyms, antonyms, and related words for your app’s primary keywords. This can help you brainstorm new ideas and explore different naming options.

Trademark search tools

Before settling on a name, it is essential to ensure that it is not already taken or infringing on any existing trademarks. Trademark search tools such as Trademarkia or TMview can help you check the availability of your desired name and avoid legal issues down the line.

Tips on How to Name an App in 2023

A poorly chosen app name or one that was never tested on your target audience will at least get your app lost in the sea of other apps. In the worst scenario, it can cause you reputational or legal problems. This is why it’s crucial to conduct in-depth research and assess the influence of your name on various individuals.

The following advice could point you in the correct direction if you still wonder how to name an app in a safe, catchy, and entertaining way:

Follow the Google Play and App Store Rules and Terms

App Store lets you provide your app’s name, subtitle, and description on the product listing. A 30-character limit applies to the app subtitle, which is displayed immediately beneath the title. So yeah, choosing an appropriate subtitle and description affect your store ranking and should be taken no less seriously than app naming.

Your app’s subtitle aims to provide a succinct summary of your app. To elaborate on your app’s worth, think about using this rather than the name of your app. Showcase your app’s strengths or popular uses that will appeal to your audience. In order to better match apps to relevant searches, Apple now provides a keyword field for developers to input a list of keywords and keyword phrases separated by commas.

The Google Play Store limits app titles to 30 characters, just like Apple does. Google offers the option for an 80-character short description in place of a subtitle to provide more details about your app.

Check the list of rules and terms for Google Play and the App Store to make sure that your app name does not violate the rules.

Keep It Short and Memorable

Shorter app names are typically preferable. This is one of the explanations for why app leaders frequently create new terms by fusing several words together. How to create an app name with this trend in mind? The shorter the name, the better because your users need to be able to quickly find, detect, and recognize your product on a small screen. A shorter name will also make it much simpler to stand out online. Consider how simple it will be for your customer to share and recall your name.

Make Your App Name an Action Word

Some of the most effective app names function well because they can be quickly turned into verbs. Consider how we say “Google it” or “Skype me” as examples. An actionable term is easier to share than a regular word and is excellent for putting the name of your app into the language of your target market. Consider this hack when naming an app.

Choose a Searchable Name

Next, ensure it will be as simple as possible for your clients to find your app. Customers find 63% of apps through the app store, where they may type in terms or keywords to find what they want. With this in mind, coming up with names for your app that represent it well is highly worthwhile.

How to name an app to make it searchable? Optimizing your listings and using keywords throughout the description increases your app’s visibility in each store. Consider how simple your app’s name is to spell and whether users can pronounce it when using Siri, Alexa, or another voice assistant. 

Pick the Name Obvious for Your Brand

Try to avoid app naming in a vacuum. You must consider the overall brand image you want to establish and the personality you want to project to your target market. Consider the potential appearance of your name on a logo. Avoid selecting a name that is too long because it should match the logo and fit under the app icon in the phone menu.

Don’t get carried away researching catchy app names and wind up with a name that has the impact your company needs. Cooperate with your team if you wonder how to create an app name reflecting your brand. Ask your colleagues for their opinion if you’re not sure the name makes sense.

Connect With Your Consumer’s Emotions

Every element of your brand, including your logo, colors, and company name, should be selected with an eye on the target market. How to name an app that would serve the TA? Firstly, identify your potential audience and study their demographics and preferences. If your product isn’t new and you already have some users, analyze their behaviors and think about how you can apply them to app naming.

Who do you believe will download your app the most frequently? Consider the language your clients are most likely to use and the terms that are most likely to speak to them. If your TA young or middle-aged? Do they seek cool neologisms or stick to comprehensive brand names that speak for themselves? How to create an app name that will encourage positive emotions? Learn your TA’s pain points to offer a great solution to their problems.

Differentiate Your Name With a Wordplay

If considering your app’s functioning doesn’t help you develop the ideal name, move on to puns. A wordplay may help you come up with the ideal title. As an illustration, “Free Map Israel” became “Waze” in 2008. The pun refers to the term “Ways,” which is perfect for an app showing you different routes to take to a particular area.

How to come up with an app name with a fun twist? If you can, try explaining what your app does out loud and see if you can think of anything special. For instance, changing the phrase “Go for leads” to “Gopher Leads” is a cute way to make it more amusing.

Attempting to misspell is another hack for fun naming. It would be a serious error to misspell your title in the typical brand naming process. Yet, you’ll have a little more freedom to be imaginative when app naming. Many examples of misspellings and strangely positioned letters may be found in some of the most well-liked apps in the world. For instance, the words “Tumblr” and “Reddit” are misspellings of the words tumbler and read it, respectively.

Look Global

Applications can be downloaded anywhere in the globe, and they may appeal to a large audience on a worldwide scale. In light of this, it is worthwhile to consider your name from a broad standpoint. Remember that various words and phrases may have different meanings depending on where you are in the world.

How to come up with an app name without offending anyone? It might be a good idea to seek the assistance of a translator if you are afraid that your name may have a different meaning in another country.

Additionally, localizing your app’s metadata is essential if it is sold in marketplaces outside of your native nation. Posting localized versions of your app’s title and subtitle will assist people in discovering and wanting to download your product because most users conduct keyword searches in their native tongues. How to name an app locally? Remember that localization encompasses more than just language. Across the US, UK, and Australia, dialect, cultural references, and search behavior vary greatly.

App Name Examples

These three app names are brief, distinctive, and keyword-focused. They present great examples of catchy app naming that never gets old and allows the brands to become widely famous worldwide.

Duolingo

The official name of this well-known software in the app stores is “Duolingo — Language Lessons,” and it teaches users how to speak a number of languages through entertaining games.

Why is the name of this app so successful, and how to come up with an app name nearly as great? The Duolingo name stands out from the other accessible language learning apps because it is simple to remember, targets popular keywords like lingo, language, and lessons, and is distinctive.

Snapchat

The social networking app that your kids can’t stop using is Snapchat, which brings us to a close. Snapchat doesn’t add additional keywords, in contrast to Duolingo (though it does have a subtitle that gives users more context.) Due to the popularity of the app, this is acceptable. We appreciate this app name since it accurately conveys the features of the program.

Snapchat allows you to transmit self-portrait photos and videos to pals. SnapChat is another word for a discussion, and everyone knows that photographs are frequently referred to as “snaps” thus, it’s a great naming an app example that has resulted in setting new slang and terms associated with using the app.

Shazam

Shazam is one of the most well-known music identification apps. No matter if it’s the intro, verse, or chorus, if you record 20 seconds of a song, it will produce a fingerprint for the sample, check the database, and use its music recognition algorithm to identify the song you are currently listening to.

Shazam is actually a word in the dictionary. Chris Barton, the app founder, once informed the crowd at the Pioneer’s Festival in 2013 that the app’s name derived from an exclamation phrase. Shazam means conjuring magical things and wanting something like a spell or a magic ritual to work out.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Naming Your App

A fantastic name creates a crucial initial impression. Here are some frequent blunders to stay away from when picking a name for your app.

Choosing a Name That Is Too Generic

It’s crucial to make sure your app name is distinctive. Most of the catchy phrases you would think of have been probably already taken. In light of this, be sure the title you desire isn’t being used by anyone else by doing some research. It’s worth checking twice when naming an app and avoiding names that are too similar to other titles stylistically. Ask yourself if your customer may easily lose track of your solution if they misspell something, even if your name differs from another app.

Using a Name That Is Too Long or Difficult to Spell

When it comes to choosing a name for an app, length and complexity matter. Using an app name that is too long or difficult to spell can result in several problems. 

Users may struggle to remember the name, making it harder for them to recommend the app to others or find it again themselves. Also, app stores rely on search algorithms, and a long or complicated name can make it harder for users to find your app. This can limit your app’s visibility in search results. 

Long app names can get truncated on mobile devices, making it harder for users to read and understand the name. Finally, a too-long or complicated name can make building brand recognition and attracting new users harder. To avoid these issues, it is essential to choose a name that is short, simple, and easy to spell and remember.

Not Considering SEO and ASO

It’s time to optimize your app now that you have a name for it. Happily, the majority of the difficult work gets simple if you follow our recommendations:

• research keywords and include them in the title of your app;
• investigate your competitors for any patterns you wish to seize;
• reduce the number of characters to make room for more keywords;
• discuss ideas for how to make your app name distinctive so that it sticks out;
• the only thing left to do is monitor your progress and, if necessary, change the name of your app according to the ASO requirements.

Not Testing the Name

Your company name may allude to the types of clients you service, your corporate goals, or what makes your organization special. Yet, one thing is certain: your name is your business card, your ace in the hole. 

Unsurprisingly, Fortune 500 firms spend millions of dollars on brand name testing techniques, research, and consultants when naming an app. The good news is that you don’t need millions of dollars or hundreds of company name suggestions to conduct a successful test. You’ll be well on your way to selecting the ideal name for your business if you abide by our suggestions and use the tools available out there.

How to Name an App: Summary

Your app’s title is crucial and shouldn’t be overlooked in the first place. Each company makes a distinct decision as to whether or not to incorporate keywords in their optimized app titles, how to conduct their values when naming an app, and whether or not to use funny wordplay techniques or stay serious.

Spend time and effort choosing a distinctive, pertinent, and appropriate name in various contexts for your specific app. Avoid manipulating the system using a deceptive app title. You will get more downloads if you strike the correct balance between distinctive and descriptive.

After you learn how to create an app name, don’t forget that everything in development is based on research and requires iterative changes. Always test your app name and present the names you like to your potential app’s audience!