Silicon Valley Naming Playbook

Tech Startup Name Generator
Y Combinator-Worthy Names

Generate the next Stripe, Airbnb, or Dropbox-style name using patterns from 500+ YC companies. Every name includes an available domain.

Generate Startup Names

✓ Free to use • ✓ YC-style names • ✓ 100% available domains

7.2
Average characters in YC unicorn names
YC Data Analysis
65%
of YC unicorns use .com domains
Crunchbase
$200K
Average cost to rebrand a Series A startup
Interbrand
5
Days recommended max for naming decision
YC Playbook

Example Tech Startup Names by Stage

Names our AI might generate for startups at different stages

Pre-seed
Launchpad.io
Action + Platform
Seed
Nextstep.co
Progress + Action
Series A
Stackbase.com
Tech term + Foundation
Series B
Swiftly.app
Speed + -ly
Pre-seed
Buildspace.io
Action + Environment
Seed
Corebit.io
Essential + Tech
Series A
Vantage.co
Perspective noun
Series B
Rampup.io
Growth verb
Series A
Foundry.app
Creation metaphor
Generate Your Own
YC Research

Y Combinator Naming Patterns

Analysis of 500+ YC companies from W05 to W24

The Single Word

34%

One powerful word that captures the essence

Psychology:

Conveys confidence, simplicity, and category ownership

StripeNotionAirbnbTwitchReddit
$45B average among top performers

The Compound

28%

Two words merged into one brand

Psychology:

Combines benefits, easier to trademark than single words

DropboxCoinbaseDoordashInstacartPostmates
$18B average among top performers

The Invented

22%

Completely new words that feel right

Psychology:

Maximum owability, global trademark potential

FigmaAsanaTwilioZapierGusto
$12B average among top performers

The Modified

16%

Real words with creative spelling

Psychology:

Familiar yet distinctive, aids memorability

LyftFiverrTumblrFlickrScribd
$8B average among top performers

Unicorn Startup Name Analysis

How YC's most valuable companies chose their names

Stripe

$50B
S09 • Founded 2010 • stripe.com

A simple English word (stripe on credit cards) recontextualized. 6 characters, 1 syllable, globally pronounceable.

Pattern: Single Word

Airbnb

$75B
W09 • Founded 2008 • airbnb.com

Air + BnB (bed and breakfast). Descriptive yet unique. The unusual combination created a new word.

Pattern: Compound

Dropbox

$9B
S07 • Founded 2007 • dropbox.com

Drop + Box. Instantly describes the product. Simple metaphor that became the category name.

Pattern: Compound

Coinbase

$15B
S12 • Founded 2012 • coinbase.com

Coin + Base. Positions as foundation for cryptocurrency. Professional and trustworthy for finance.

Pattern: Compound

Instacart

$24B
S12 • Founded 2012 • instacart.com

Instant + Cart. Perfect description of the value prop. Name tells you exactly what it does.

Pattern: Compound

Reddit

$10B
S05 • Founded 2005 • reddit.com

Play on 'read it' - 'I read it on Reddit.' The name is a pun that explains usage.

Pattern: Modified

Naming Strategy by Startup Stage

Different stages require different naming approaches

1

Pre-seed / Idea Stage

Don't overthink it—you may pivot. Choose something available and professional.

Priority
Speed to market
Time Budget
1-2 days max
TLD Priority
.io.co.app
2

Seed / MVP Stage

Name should support fundraising and early marketing efforts.

Priority
Investor appeal + memorability
Time Budget
1 week
TLD Priority
.com.io.co
3

Series A / Growth

Consider international expansion and trademark protection.

Priority
Scalability + legal protection
Time Budget
2-4 weeks
TLD Priority
.com required
4

Series B+ / Scale

If renaming, invest in professional branding and gradual transition.

Priority
Brand equity preservation
Time Budget
Professional agency
TLD Priority
.com only

What VCs Look For in Startup Names

Insights from partners at top-tier venture firms

Memorability

Critical

VCs see 1000+ pitches/year. A memorable name helps you stand out and be recalled.

Red Flags:
Hard to spellHard to pronounceForgettable

Professionalism

High

Name should match the seriousness of the opportunity. B2B especially needs credibility.

Red Flags:
Too playful for enterpriseImmature associationsCheap-sounding

Global Potential

High

Top VCs think global from day one. Name should work across cultures and languages.

Red Flags:
Negative meanings abroadUnpronounceable globallyCultural limitations

Domain Quality

Medium

While .io and .co are acceptable, investors prefer .com for large outcomes.

Red Flags:
Long domainsHyphensNumbersObscure TLDs

The YC Founder's Naming Timeline

How to name your startup in one week or less

Day 1-2
Generate 50+ names
Use namemyapp to rapidly generate domain-verified options
Start Here
Day 3
Shortlist to 10
Filter for memorability, pronunciation, and emotional response
Day 4
Test with 5 people
Get feedback on spelling, pronunciation, and first impressions
Day 5
Check availability
Verify domain, social handles, and basic trademark search
Day 6
Make decision
Choose and register domain. Don't look back.
Day 7
Move on
Name is done. Focus on building the product.

Startup Naming Myths Debunked

Common beliefs that hold founders back

Partially False

“You need a .com domain to succeed”

Reality: Many unicorns started with .io or .co. Linear.app, Notion.so, Cal.com all prove alternatives work.

False

“The name must describe what you do”

Reality: Abstract names (Stripe, Figma) often outperform descriptive ones. They're more memorable and flexible.

False

“Changing your name later is easy”

Reality: Rebranding costs $50K-$500K+ and risks losing brand equity. Get it right early when stakes are low.

False

“Short names are always taken”

Reality: With modern TLDs (.io, .app, .co), many short, brandable names are still available.

Tech Startup Naming FAQ

What makes a good tech startup name?
Great tech startup names are short (under 10 characters ideal), memorable, easy to spell, and often invented or abstract. Think Stripe, Figma, Notion—simple yet distinctive. They avoid clichés like 'tech,' 'digital,' or 'smart.' Our AI generates names following these Y Combinator-worthy patterns while checking domain availability in real-time.
Should I use .io or .com for my startup?
.com has the highest trust, but many good .coms are taken. .io is the de facto startup TLD—companies like Linear.app, Notion.so, and Figma.com prove modern TLDs work perfectly. Our generator shows all available options so you can choose what fits your brand and budget.
How do Y Combinator startups choose names?
YC startups typically spend less than a week on naming. They prioritize: speed over perfection, availability over ideal, and building over branding. They often use invented words (Figma), simple English words recontextualized (Stripe), or compound words (Dropbox). Our AI generates names in these successful patterns.
Can I get a short domain name?
Short .com names are mostly taken, but you can find excellent short names in .io, .co, .app, and .ai. Many unicorns use these: Linear.app, Cal.com, Loom.com. Our generator specializes in finding available short, brandable domains across multiple TLDs.
How important is the name for fundraising?
A great name won't get you funded, but a bad one can hurt first impressions. VCs see thousands of pitches—a memorable, professional name helps you stand out and be recalled. Avoid names that are hard to spell, pronounce, or remember. Focus on the product, but don't underestimate name quality.
How long should I spend on naming my startup?
The YC advice is: spend no more than one week. Perfectionism kills startups, and you can always rebrand later (though it's expensive). Use tools like namemyapp to generate options quickly, shortlist based on availability and gut feel, then commit and move on.
What if I need to change my startup name later?
It's possible but expensive ($50K-$500K+ depending on stage). The earlier you change, the cheaper it is. If you're pre-product, change now. Post-Series A, consult a branding agency. Better to spend a week getting it right now than $200K later.

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