How to Use AI to Help Brainstorm Brand Name Ideas

Working to brainstorm name ideas for your new business or product and don’t know where to start? AI chatbots can be a super useful tool for generating captivating brand name ideas. While AI isn't quite ready to handle the entire naming process, it can significantly boost your creativity and help you overcome writer's block.

Beyond Basic AI Suggestions

If you’ve ever tried getting name ideas directly from Claude, Gemini or ChatGPT, you might cringe at the thought of using AI to brainstorm a brand name. We’ve found that rather than asking these tools directly for name ideas, it’s more helpful to have them strategically generate “components” that you can use to build the ideal brand name yourself. 

While Google can provide similar information, the conversational nature of AI chatbots fosters a more dynamic, creative experience. The back-and-forth can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and help you explore ideas from multiple angles.

Here's how we at Bootstrap leverage AI to break through creative barriers:

• Expand Your Vocabulary

  You can likely think of one or two keywords that are relevant to your brand or the emotions you wish to capture in your name. From there:

  • Ask AI: "What are some positive terms similar to [your keyword]?"

  • Refine further: "I liked these 3 suggestions: [list]. Can you provide more words with similar emotions?"

  • Experiment with requesting specific word lengths or letter combinations.

• Tap into the Power of Idioms

  Idioms and common phrases can be goldmines for clever, memorable names that resonate with your audience. Think "Icebreakers" gum or "Reddit."

  • Ask AI to generate idioms related to your industry or brand values.

  • Look for phrases you can creatively twist or repurpose.

• Play with Sounds

Phonetic structures like alliteration and rhyme schemes create "sticky" names that linger in people's minds. A couple of examples of alliteration in action are Dunkin' Donuts, Lululemon and Range Rover. A rhyme scheme or shared sounds name will look and feel like Best Western, Reese’s Pieces, Stub Hub or 7-Eleven. Try these AI prompts to help find words that fit naturally:

• "[Your industry] terms that start with [desired letter]"

• "Positive words containing the short 'e' sound"

Your AI-Powered Naming Process

• Use AI to generate diverse linguistic components.

• Mix and match the AI suggestions creatively.

• Trust your instincts to identify promising options. AI isn’t perfect (yet!)

• Refine and test your favorites.

For an extra leg up, you can reach out to a local brand naming agency for help. DesignRush offers a comprehensive list of qualified naming agencies (like ours) that can help you and your team land the ideal brand name.

Remember, while AI is a powerful brainstorming tool, it has limitations. For instance, AI can't reliably check domain availability or trademark conflicts. By combining AI's creative suggestions with your own research and due diligence, you'll be well-equipped to find that perfect, brand-defining name—one that's not just creative, but also practical and legally viable for your business.