While kickstarting your business, picking a unique brand and business name is one of the most important first tasks for you.
Once you decided on a business and brand name, it is almost permanent. Changing names after deciding on one requires a huge effort.
Your business name should be an indication of what your business does for your target audience. They also tend to assess the quality and appearance of your business/product based on its name.
India’s love of creative names
India is a country with diverse languages, and for a majority of the population, English is a second or third language. Hence, it is common to see names that use a mix of English and Hindi — Hindi words in the English script.
It’s common to see Indian brand names like ‘Bajaao’ and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’ — the former sells musical instruments online and the latter is a popular Indian newspaper. You will also see a mix of English and Hindi used in brand names as in ‘Big Bazaar,’ a famous retail outlet in India belonging to the Future Group.
As you can see, these names are easy to remember among Indians. They are more likely to remember a name in their first language — even though it is written in the English script.
What is a brand name?
Your brand name is your first point of contact with potential customers. It is an identity or personality you create for your product or service.
In the beginning, a brand name primarily creates intrigue. Whether people see it in a social media ad or on a T-shirt, that’s all they know about your business.
As customers experience your product or service, those experiences help shape the brand persona. Based on the image you are able to project, and the experience on offer, a strong brand name can trigger a positive recall for your business.
Brand name vs. business name
Taj Hotels, for example, is one of the oldest and most luxurious five-star hotel chains in India. The business name behind the ‘Taj’ brand is Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).
Here the business name — IHCL — is different from the brand name.
In this case, the brand name and business name are different, but they don’t necessarily have to be so. Nike, Britannia, Amul and Dettol are some household names in India where the brand name and business name are the same.
Product name
A product name, on the other hand, could be a generic term associated with the business, like ‘Hotels’ in the example above. Businesses create specific identities for various products to help differentiate their offerings.
Again using the same example, IHCL has multiple properties in India’s party capital Goa, namely:
- Taj Fort Aguada
- Taj Exotica
- Taj Holiday Village
Your brand name, product name and business could all be the same or different, depending on your business vision, and being mindful of regulatory compliance and trademark norms.
The importance of choosing a unique brand & business name in India
1. Your business name reflects your brand
Choosing the name for a child is an important and challenging decision for parents. They spend umpteen hours squabbling and researching to come up with a name that is contemporary, unique and reflects a trait that may positively affect their child.
For budding entrepreneurs, their venture is no less than a child, and they face exactly the same dilemma when looking for brand name suggestions for their new product or service.
Dettol is a brand name that has come to mean cleanliness.
A brand name is an important asset for any business. The brand name is not just the identity of the company, it also reflects the:
- Brand promise
- Product or service on offer
- Ability of the business to differentiate itself from its competitors
Your brand name will have an impact on whether your business can attract customers and quality employees alike.
2. First impression matters
Our subconscious mind is way smarter than our conscious mind. The moment we see something, we start forming opinions about it. In short, we make judgments quickly.
A study says that 78% of the purchase decisions are taken on a brand name. While we think human beings are the most rational animals, the most important decision of making a purchase is based on emotions and not logic. If a brand evokes positive emotions, people tend to buy more.
Your business name is one of the first points of contact with your customers. It is the first impression of your company. Hence, make it impressive.
3. Domain name availability
Your business does not exist if you are not online.
We are living in a digital world where companies are competing to grab customers’ attention online.
For this reason, you will not want to select a company name for which the domain name is not available. However, finding an available domain name can be challenging. Often, the exact domain name you want might already be taken. For instance, Tesla and Twitch did not initially have their exact name-dot-com domains when they started. Companies sometimes have to use alternative domain names until they can acquire their preferred ones.
If your preferred domain name is not available, you might need to get creative. You could consider variations of your business name, use different top-level domains (like .net, .biz, or country-specific extensions like .in), or add words to your domain name to make it unique.
It's important to check the availability of your desired domain name early in the naming process. Doing so can save you time and help ensure that your business name and domain name align, making it easier for customers to find you online.
Just as an example, let us say you would like to name your business Flipkart. You decide you will register a .com domain name because it has global appeal. Type Flipkart.com into the box below to see if it is available to you.
As you can see, the popular internet retailer has already registered Flipkart.com. Since only one person or entity may use a particular domain name at a time, you will need to find a different name for your business website. You’ll want a business name for which the matching domain name is available to you.
4. No going back: it is unwise to change the name later
Technically, there are provisions to change your company name, both online and offline, but it is not advised. You’ll not just have to rebrand your business — from printing new business cards to installing new signage — but all the links and trust you have earned on the internet will be lost.
Let’s say you’ve already begun trading under the business name of Flipkart when you realize this name is already being used.
Setting aside the legal issues of using a trademarked business name, there are other concerns to changing your business name after startup. It is like starting your business all over again. Your SEO efforts will go in vain, and all your existing links will break down.
You will have to rebrand your business, with all of the costs that go with it.
The high costs of choosing a poor brand name
Selecting an unsuitable brand name can have significant repercussions for your business. A poor choice can lead to negative public perception, legal issues, and damage to your brand's reputation.
An inappropriate or confusing name might alienate your target audience, undermine your marketing efforts, and make it difficult to stand out against competitors. In some cases, businesses have been compelled to rename due to legal challenges or offensive meanings associated with their brand names.
Renaming is not only costly, but also risks losing the brand recognition and customer loyalty you've worked hard to build. It can require recreating marketing materials, updating legal documents, and re-establishing your online presence, including your website and social media profiles.
Investing time and effort into choosing the right name from the outset is crucial for the long-term success of your business.
Evaluating brand names: strategic, creative, and technical lenses
Strategic considerations
A strategic brand name should be meaningful and rooted in your brand strategy. It should express relevant ideas and resonate with your target audience.
The name should be distinctive, helping you stand out against competitors, and adaptable enough to grow with your business over time.
Creative elements
Creativity plays a crucial role in making your brand name memorable. A creative name not only sounds good but also evokes emotions and sticks in the minds of your customers.
Consider the structure of your name—repetition, alliteration, rhyming, and brevity can enhance memorability.
It's also important to consider the context of your industry and what will resonate with your audience.
Technical hurdles
Finally, technical considerations are essential when choosing a brand name. Ensure that the name is legally available and doesn't infringe on any existing trademarks.
It's increasingly difficult to find a unique name, so thorough research is necessary.
Additionally, the name should be easy to spell and pronounce, avoiding any problematic meanings or associations in relevant languages.
The goal is to find a name that aligns with your brand's identity and appeals to your audience.
How to find and choose your business name?
1. Research on your target audiences and competitors
Some great business names can happen by a stroke of inspiration and luck, but many good business names don't happen overnight. It can take days of brainstorming to find the right business name.
Leverage brainstorming strategies to compile a detailed list of possible company names.
Study the broader naming landscape — how did your competitors come up with their names? Are there certain naming trends within your industry?
Consider big-name brands that are instantly recognizable. Take for example, Kleenex or Sharpie. What associations do these names evoke? Finding the perfect name for your brand will require in-depth research and repeated revisions.
Although you can initiate this process independently, it's important to seek the opinions of trusted mentors, friends, and family before making it public.
2. Create a brand identity
The first step towards creating a brand name is to identify the characteristics of your product or service as honestly and precisely as possible and define your target audience.
You need to ask yourself what you want to convey with your brand name. Exclusivity? Everyday use? A low-cost solution?
Don’t forget to speak the language of your customers:
- If likely buyers are young, you might consider using slang terms they use
- If your target customers speak a particular dialect, consider this in choosing a brand name
Consider how easy the brand name is to spell and remember.
Imagine future customers speaking your business name to their friends—will the friend be able to type it into their smartphone correctly after hearing it?
Finally, will this name be viable for your long-term vision?
This exercise can help you streamline your choices. It also sets up a path for your future marketing and business strategies. Once you have it down, you can start using graphics and logos to brand yourself on social media and other marketing assets. You can even try GoDaddy's free logo maker to create your own custom graphics using hundreds of easy-to-use design templates.
Related: How to introduce your brand to a larger audience
3. Design a mood board
Creating a mood board is a visual brainstorming technique that can help you generate creative business name ideas and establish your brand identity through visual elements.
Collect images, colors, fonts, and other visual inspirations that represent the essence of your brand. This collage of visuals can spark ideas and help you find words that resonate with your brand's personality and values.
A mood board can also guide your branding decisions beyond the name, influencing your logo design, website aesthetics, and marketing materials.
4. Perform a word dump
Begin by writing down all the words pertinent to your brand and sector. Don't overthink it. The purpose of a word dump is to produce a spontaneous outpouring of ideas.
Set a timer (ranging from 10-30 minutes) and try to continuously write during this period — from descriptive words to root words from other languages or words that depict your product or service. Don't hold back.
5. Use a thesaurus
Refer back to the list of words from your word dump and use a thesaurus to discover synonyms and antonyms.
Broadening your list will provide more possibilities.
You can then eliminate names that are not relevant.
However, don't just limit yourself to adjectives. Some of the most powerful company names are nouns.
6. Use a business name generator
After brainstorming with your friends, co-founders, and family for ideas, you can also use online tools like GoDaddy's Business Name Generator to get company name suggestions. This tool offers a list of potential company names based on a few targeted keywords. Try it multiple times and keep refining until you land on the perfect business name.
Editor's Note: With thousands of businesses being floated every day, it is unlikely that you would be able to run with whatever brand name you come up with. Make sure to check with the GoI registry under the Indian Trademarks Act 1999 if the brand name is available to avoid any future complications.
Unique business names in India
Before we get into our naming rules, let’s start by looking at a few unique business names of startups in India:
Coolberg
Coolberg, a Mumbai-based startup, produces handcrafted non-alcoholic beers. Since 2016, Coolberg has been making parties and gatherings easier for non-alcoholic friends/family with a range of flavours.
Shuttl
Shuttl is an app-based minibus public transportation service for commuters. Founded in 2015, the service provides a hassle-free and convenient travel option.
Doctalk
This app was developed in Mumbai in 2016. It stores and shares medical reports and prescriptions with doctors, allowing patients to skip the hassle of an in-person visit.
Treebo
Treebo is an Indian budget hotel chain that operates on franchising. Since launching in 2015, it has grown to more than 350 hotels in 80 cities in India.
CoWrks
In 2016, CoWrks was founded to offer fully furnished and managed coworking spaces at affordable pricing in India. The company has locations in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai.
CoWrks not only survived the pandemic but is thriving. India has one of the largest office markets in Asia Pacific region. CoWrks has happily stepped up to satisfy the demand for office space among IT/ITeS, BFSI and consulting firms.
Guidelines for unique business name ideas in India
1. Make sure it is easy to remember
How do you like these names: Speesees, Naymz or Flickr?
Yes, these businesses did it, but only by spending lots of money on awareness advertising.
The most common mistake that businesses make while choosing a business name is coming up with something too difficult.
The easier your business name is to pronounce, spell, share and remember, the better it is for your business.
You don’t want to lose business just because people can’t remember your company name. Plus, when you choose a misspelled name, you’ll have to spell out your domain name every time you mention it.
Try to keep your business name short and avoid all the:
- Useless acronyms
- Complex or jumbled-up words
- Numbers and hyphens
- Misspellings
Some examples of unique and easy names are Paytm, Zomato and ClearDekho.
2. Hints at what you do and use keywords
Choose business names that helps your customers paint a picture in their minds and understand what you do. The more your name communicates to the audience, the less effort you have to take to explain it.
For example, on hearing YourStory.com, one might picture something that shares stories of people. On hearing Nature’s Basket, you might envision a basket full of fresh, green fruits and vegetables.
Try to include information about what your business does in your business name. This will also make it easier for your potential customers to find your business on search engines.
For instance:
- Ola Cabs is an Indian transportation network company offering cab services.
- FreshMenu is a food delivery service.
Just by looking at their names, we can guess their offerings.
You may also want to have your business or industry keyword right in the name itself. A keyword is a word or phrase that your customers will likely type in when looking for your product or service on the internet. It helps with search engine optimization.
3. Use words that are popular in your industry
Depending on the type of business you are running, you can come up with a business name by finding unique names or jargon specific to your industry. For example, if you’re a photographer then you can choose a name related to words like pixel or focus.
If it is related to fashion then you can have something like yoke or grading. You get the idea.
Appeal to the senses
Tap into the human psyche by invoking a positive response based on sound, smell or perception. These associations can help convey certain information or perceived traits about your product.
For example, there are restaurant names such as:
- Red Chillies
- Masala Library
- Aromas
On the other hand, you can look at brand names that play on perception. We have beauty products named Lux as a play on luxury, and Forest Essentials that creates a perception of organic ingredients.
Recall or connotation
Using a brand name or business name that helps recall an image or feeling makes it easier to connect with the customer. It could be related to anything that you think ties with your business persona:
- A name
- Place
- Mythological creature
- Metaphor
Reliance Industries looks to convey ‘trust’ as a synonym, while eCommerce giant Amazon suggests the breadth of its products is as expansive as the world’s largest tropical rainforest.
Word combos?
So, put on your creative hat. We’re going to explore some very creative names for your company.
Think of some words related to your industry. Then type them into a tool like Name Combiner — it melds two to four words into really creative names.
Say you sell cosmetics — let’s put in beauty and cosmetics and see what shows up.
You can put one Hindi and one English word in the tool to make the experiment more interesting. It doesn’t take long to come up with some innovative combos.
Blended names
You could also create a brand name by blending different names or words. You could possibly come up with unique sounding words in this way.
Adolf Dassler used his nickname and part of the surname to coin Adidas, the name of the sports retailer.
Infosys (technology) combine parts of the words ‘information’ and ‘system’. Although it’s not a proper English word, the combination suggests the products and services the business provides.
4. Choose a name that won’t limit future growth
A business owner would not like to have a business name that could create a hurdle in its business growth. Hence, before finalising your business name, always think about the future.
Avoid using a specific place in your business name. Business expansion or change in business location may become a problem in business growth.
A business name like ‘Delhi Clothing’ may imply that you serve only in Delhi.
The same applies to the products or services you provide. If you intend to expand your business offerings in the future, try not to make the name too specific.
5. Matching domain name is available
As a part of your business name generation process, it is important to check which business names are already registered. The Government of India maintains a database on this here.
However, in the internet era, you must also check available domain names before agreeing on a business name. Do this before you register your new business name with the government.
The domain name will become your website address, so make sure you can buy the matching domain name for your business website.
The website name should reflect the nature of your business, and ideally, it should be the same as the brand name.
Type in a business name you like to check the domain availability of the matching domain name:
6. Numerology
We often consider numerology as an orthodox concept and ignore it completely. But the truth is, names are a form of energy and every energy has good and bad vibrations. Find out the numerology score of your business name before you make a final choice.
7. Check out its meaning in other languages
If you’re not limited to India and catering to other countries as well, this step can save you from any possible embarrassment later.
Here is an interesting example of such failure: Pee Cola is a popular soda bottled in Ghana. Its name means ‘very good cola’ to the locals, but that’s not the tourist’s first impression of this drink.
8. Use your name or your family's name
One of the easiest ways to brand a business is by using the name of the founder.
Aditya Birla (conglomerate), Honda (automobiles), Sabyasachi (fashion) and Hiranandani (realty) are some examples of names used as brand names. If you’re a coach, trainer or would like to become an influencer like Jon Loomer or DigitalDeepak, your name can be a good company name.
9. Abbreviations for longer words
Another easy hack is to abbreviate either the founder’s name or a long trade name. H&M (apparel), HCL (technology) and ICICI (banking and finance) are some popular examples.
Abbreviated names are easy to remember, but usually do not say much about the business or what goods or services it offers.
How to secure your business name in India?
After you make a decision on your business name, it's time to secure it and claim your ownership. Here are the steps that you will need to take:
Purchase a matching domain for your business name
Your website name — or domain name — helps people find your website. As mentioned above, the domain name you purchase will become your website address, so make sure you can buy the matching domain name for your business website.
Related: What is a domain name?
Nail your company name right at the first instance
The last thing to remember is that unique business names can’t totally make or break any business, but they definitely can have a powerful impact.
The right name acts as a foundation on which you will build your business. It’s not just a name. It’s the cornerstone of your business identity.
Hence, try to get the right name to make sure your business is off to a great start!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on naming your business in India
1. How to legally protect your business name in India?
When choosing a unique brand or business name in India, it's crucial to consider the legal aspects to ensure that your business operates smoothly. Once you have selected and purchased your business and domain name, the first step is to apply for a Director Identification Number (DIN). This can be done by completing the eForm available on the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Next, you should apply for a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). This enables you to sign Next, you must get the name of the company approved and registered by filing the incorporation forms. To do this, you’ll need a passport-size photograph, the PAN card (as identity proof) and a utility bill not more than two months old (as address proof). Take care while choosing the company category:
- Sole Proprietorship Company (SPC)
- Partnership Company (PC)
- One Person Company (OPC)
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
- Private Limited Company (PLC)
2. What is the process for trademarking a brand name in India in 2025?
Once you've decided on the best name for your new business, perform a trademark search.
Conducting a Trademark search online will reveal any trademarked brand names that are the same or similar to your name.
If it is already trademarked, it is better to move on to the next favourite name on your list.
If it is similar to your name, it might confuse consumers, especially in the same business category.
The best option is to alter the name or select a new name. You could use some websites specializing in trademarks, like the IP India public search website to check for trademarks. You can also search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database for names that have been registered as trademarks.
3. What tools can help me find a unique business name in India?
There are several tools and resources available to help you find a unique and effective business name in India. One of these tools is a domain name generator, which has the added bonus of checking for available domain names and extensions at the same time.
A tool like GoDaddy’s domain name generator, will generate a list of potential business names after you input one or more keywords.
Remember, the chosen name should not only be unique but also easy to remember, pronounce, and spell. It should also reflect your business's nature and values.
UPDATE: This unique business names post was first published on 19 November 2019 and updated 13 June 2022, 28 December 2023, 3 January 2025 and 20 May 2025. It also contains content originally published on the GoDaddy India blog, written by Juned Ghanchi, Digvijay Singh, Shweta Saxena, Maneka Tanwani and Brian Pereira.
