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Catchy Business Names

Catchy names are designed to stick in people's minds through rhythm, wordplay, or unexpected combinations.

Characteristics

Memorable through rhythm or repetition
Often use wordplay, puns, or alliteration
Great for consumer-facing brands
Stand out from serious competitors
Fun to say and share
Build word-of-mouth naturally

Examples

Piggly Wiggly

Grocery

Rhyming name creates instant memorability

Dunkin'

Food

Action word with dropped 'g' feels casual and fun

7-Eleven

Retail

Hours of operation became the brand

Five Guys

Food

Number + common word, founder story

In-N-Out

Food

Describes the experience, easy rhythm

Chick-fil-A

Food

Clever spelling, 'A' grade quality claim

Krispy Kreme

Food

Alliteration with creative spelling

Build-A-Bear

Retail

Describes activity, playful hyphenation

Pop Tarts

Food

'Pop' is action, 'tart' is product, fun combo

Kit Kat

Food

Rhyming sounds, easy to remember jingle

Tic Tac

Food

Sound mimics the product experience

Snapchat

Social

Two action words, describes the product

Naming Formulas

Rhyming Words

Piggly Wiggly, Tic Tac, StubHub

Alliteration

Krispy Kreme, Best Buy, Dunkin Donuts

Number + Word

7-Eleven, Five Guys, 3M

Action + Object

Snapchat, Kickstarter, TripAdvisor

Wordplay/Puns

Chick-fil-A, Toys R Us, Netflix

Sound Words

Pop Tarts, Tic Tac, Zoom

Naming Tips

1

Use rhymes or alliteration to create rhythm

2

Play with familiar phrases or idioms

3

Add unexpected elements that surprise

4

Test memorability with friends and family

5

Consider how it sounds in a jingle or tagline

6

Make sure the catchiness fits your brand personality

Mistakes to Avoid

Forcing a pun that doesn't land

Bad puns can make your brand seem unprofessional

Being too clever for your audience

If people don't get it, the cleverness backfires

Creating catchiness that feels childish for B2B

Know your audience - catchy isn't always appropriate

Relying on trends that will fade

What's catchy today may be cringe tomorrow

The Psychology Behind This Style

Catchy names leverage several cognitive principles: rhyme-as-reason effect (rhyming phrases are perceived as more truthful), phonetic symbolism (certain sounds feel fun), and the mere exposure effect (we like things that are easy to process). These names feel familiar even on first hearing.

Creating Catchy Names That Stick

The best catchy names seem effortless, but they're carefully crafted using specific techniques that exploit how our brains process and remember information.

The Science of Catchiness

Phonetic Fluency: Names that are easy to say are perceived as:

  • More trustworthy
  • More likeable
  • Easier to remember

Rhyme-As-Reason Effect: Rhyming phrases are perceived as more truthful and memorable. "Krispy Kreme" just sounds right.

Pattern Recognition: The brain loves patterns. Alliteration (same starting sounds) creates a satisfying pattern that aids memory.

Techniques for Catchy Names

Alliteration: Same starting sounds:

  • Best Buy
  • Coca-Cola
  • Krispy Kreme
  • PayPal
  • Dunkin Donuts

Rhyme: Matching end sounds:

  • StubHub
  • Piggly Wiggly
  • Tic Tac
  • FitBit

Rhythm: Natural verbal flow:

  • Kit Kat (short-short)
  • In-N-Out (short-short-short)
  • Five Guys (long-long)

Sound Symbolism: Certain sounds evoke feelings:

  • 'K' sounds = hard, strong (Kodak, Kit Kat)
  • 'S' sounds = soft, smooth (Silk, Smooth)
  • 'Z' sounds = energetic, zippy (Zapier, Zoom)

When to Use Catchy Names

Best For:

  • Consumer products and retail
  • Food and beverage
  • Entertainment and media
  • Apps and games
  • Youth-focused brands

Use Caution For:

  • B2B enterprise software
  • Legal and financial services
  • Healthcare (can work, but carefully)
  • Luxury brands (subtlety often better)

The Catchiness Spectrum

Highly Catchy (Consumer): Piggly Wiggly, Tic Tac, Kit Kat

Moderately Catchy (Broad Appeal): PayPal, TikTok, Snapchat

Subtly Catchy (Professional): Salesforce, Workday, ServiceNow

Testing Catchiness

The Recall Test: Share the name, wait 24 hours:

  • Can they remember it exactly?
  • Do they remember it fondly?

The Share Test: Tell someone the name:

  • Do they smile or chuckle?
  • Do they repeat it back?

The Jingle Test: Can you imagine it in a commercial?

  • Does it have natural rhythm?
  • Would it work in a song?

Common Pitfalls

Too Clever: If you have to explain why it's clever, it's not working.

Wrong Tone: A playful name for a funeral home would be disastrous.

Dated References: Pop culture references age poorly.

Forced Humor: Puns should feel natural, not labored.

Evolving Catchiness

Some brands start catchy and mature:

  • Dunkin Donuts → Dunkin (dropped the product)
  • Federal Express → FedEx (streamlined)

The most durable catchy names work even as brands grow more serious.

Related Styles

Two Word Business Names

Blue Apron, Red Bull, General Electric

Creative Business Names

Amazon, Apple, Patagonia

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