If you’re thinking of starting a blog, sooner or later, you’ll face an important question: how can you choose your blog name? Your blog name will be your trademark and your brand name. Apart from that, it will also be the identity of your online persona. That’s how people will get to know you and your blog -and for that, you need a memorable blog name. Finding a suitable name is, therefore, an important aspect of your blogging life. You have to consider several factors, and you shouldn’t decide on one if you can’t stand up for it in terms of content.
In this post, I’m going to break down the process of choosing a blog name, and I will also add some tips and techniques. Moreover, and since I’m running a travel blog, I will add an extra section with more tips on choosing a travel blog name, and I will explain how I ended up choosing mine. Last but not least, at the bottom of this post, I will share my other blogging resources.
So, let’s see now how you can find the ideal blog name.
How to choose your blog name – Part 1: Narrowing down
Now, if you are reading this post, you are probably one step ahead of other aspiring bloggers: it means that you already decided to start a blog. You do not still think if that’s the right thing for you; instead, you know that this is what you want to do. And this is crucial. Why? Well, because it means that you have an idea in your mind. You probably know what you would like to write about, what sort of content you’re willing to produce. And this brings us to the first thing to consider for your blog name:
1) What’s your niche?
Now, the term niche might scare you. You might think that you must have a concrete business plan or that you have to know everything in advance. Relax and take a deep breath: I don’t believe that any of the bloggers out there knew everything before they started. The vast majority knew a thing or two about blogging, and they learned by trial and error. That said, don’t let the term “niche” scare you.
But: you must have an idea of what you would like to write, no matter how broad or narrow your topic will be. Since you are searching for a blog name, I bet you already know what you’d love to write. Do you want to start a travel blog? Or will it be a lifestyle blog? Do you have a passion for food, and therefore, willing to start a food blog? Or, you just want to share your thoughts with the world, and you’re just thinking of a more generic name that could fit everything? What do you have in mind? Open a Google Docs document and write everything down.
Now, in the past, I argued that it’s not a must to have a particular niche because it might discourage you. For example, it’s okay to start a food blog and find your way slowly instead of starting a food blog with mushrooms-only recipes. That’s because you might run soon out of ideas and, eventually, out of content. If you are from the lucky ones that have a passion for something rare and you think that you can dig the topic forever, then you are a step ahead of every aspiring blogger out there. But if you don’t have a super-specific niche, don’t let that fact discourage you.
So, the takeaway point here is to define your niche, no matter how broad it is. Sports blog, travel blog, food blog, whatever you think can motivate you to start a blog, that’s your niche initially.
2) What’s your personality?
This might sound like a tough one. You might also think that it’s a bit irrelevant. But, trust me, it’s your personality that will define the style of your blog. And the tone of your writing as well.
Try to think about it this way: are you witty? Do you enjoy being diplomatic? Are you into criticizing, or would you like to feature only the things that you love? In other words, who are you? Try to be honest with yourself here. Also, try to imagine how you would like to write. In general, it’s always good to let your personality shine. Don’t think that you have to pretend you are happy when you have a bad day. You should approach your writing, having in mind who you really are. The readers are not stupid: they can recognize if you are hiding something. You should be yourself -and that should be visible already from your blog name. For example, don’t choose as your blog name “Optimistic Jack” if you are a pessimist.
That said, think of who you are and how you’d like to write. And think about the tone of your writing. Some writers would like to make people think, while others prefer to entertain. Now, I know what you think: why not combine everything? Yeap, it sounds good. But can you really support that with your writing? Or will it end up being a mixture of styles without an identity? As a rule of thumb, I’d say pick up a mood or two and stick to them. Most of the writers and bloggers cannot write with twenty or thirty moods. Pick your writing style, experiment with it, and try to stick to it.
3) For whom you’d like to write? What’s your target audience?
Every blogger needs an audience. That’s how you motivate yourself to carry on blogging. Moreover, that’s how you can also monetize your blog (if that’s, of course, one of your goals). Think of it that way: let’s say that you run a travel blog. The main question should be what you would like to read, and not what you’d like to write. In other words, you have to offer value to your readers. You have to provide a text that you’d like to read when you are searching online.
It’s crucial to understand what your readers would like to read. Of course, there’s no magic recipe here. But as I wrote above, try to imagine what the people would like to read and offer it to them in the best possible way. So, how can you find out for whom you’d like to write? By researching your target audience. And here’s why the blog name is important: because the target audience should identify with your name. You need a name for your blog that will create a bond between you and your readers. In other words, a proof that you know the topic and you can help/inform/entertain them.
A note on these three elements
Before proceeding to Part 2, I’m adding here a short note. I believe that the three elements I described above are crucial for finding the best blog name. You have to know your niche, you have to understand who you are and how you’d like to write, and you have to keep your audience in mind. I would advise you not to create a blog before figuring out these three things. If you do figure these things out, everything will be easier from then on.
How to choose your blog name – Part 2: Tips
Now, after the initial process, it’s time for some tips and advice on how to pick an awesome blog name. There are several different approaches to the topic, but specific rules always apply. I’m going to break down these rules and explain what you can make out of them.
1) Keep your blog name short
Having a very long blog name might create confusion. Unless it’s something memorable, it’s always better to keep it short. The last thing you want is to be defined as “that guy with that long name” that no one remembers. I’d say keep your name 2-3 words long. Do not use five or six words because it might be hard for people to remember.
2) Try to create a concept for your blog name
You have 2-3 words for your blog name, and you have to be as descriptive as possible. Your blog name will be the face of your website. People might love the name, or people might hate it. No matter what, that’s how they will recognize you, remember you, or forget about you. You have to create a powerful blog name, something that will stand out from the crowd. Try to avoid saturated words. While keywords are essential for every blog, some words are overused. Therefore, you might never rank for them. So, what’s the point of creating a keyword-oriented blog name when a) you can’t rank for it, and b) it will result in a bland name?
Let me explain what I mean about the keywords. For example, for a travel blog, a name including words like “travel” or “journey” feel compatible, but you won’t have the chance to rank for them. If you name your blog “Journeys with X,” you’ll never rank for the word “journeys.” Sure, if someone googles “Journeys with X,” at some point, they will find your blog. But even this will probably take a while.
Instead, I’d advise you to focus on secondary words. Here comes the previous section in the game: who you are. Let’s keep the travel blog example. How do you travel? Do you have a small backpack? Do you avoid drinking tap water while traveling? Or maybe, do you still write in hand? Think of who you are and how you do things. Since you know your niche (for our example, it’s travel), think in and out of the box. And -I insist- think of who you are. Are you witty? Well, wouldn’t it sound better to be “Witty Suitcase” instead of “Travel with P?”
3) Use your own name (or even your nickname)
Now, I must admit that I’m not the biggest fan of this option, but I also have to admit that it might help you move things forward. Some of us have very common names (I’m George, and I didn’t even think of using it), but other people have less common names. Plus, some nicknames sound lovely and are conceptual. Think about your name or your nickname and see if you can make something out of it. Mix and match your name with a variety of words and see if you like some of them.
4) Random book pages
This one has proven to be one of my favorite strategies. I do pick random book pages all the time, especially when I’d like to write an article and I’m searching for a title. Pick up a book and say out loud a page number. Then, go to this page and read it. Since you are in a brainstorming mood, see if you can find a word that sounds compatible with your blog concept. Do it over and over again, with different books and different pages. Write down the words and try to mix them with the ones you found above.
5) Use a Blog Name Generator
Lots of people trust blog name generators. I didn’t have any luck while searching for blog name ideas, but this doesn’t mean that it can’t work for you. There are several online blog name generators where you can add a word or two and receive proposals. Even if you get one idea for your blog, I think it deserves to try it out. See those generators as extra tools in the process of finding ideas for your blog name.
The blog name generators I used in the past were the following.
- BNG. The Business Blog Name Generators can give you ideas for your blog. Check the BNG here.
- The Name Generator. One more service for helping you with your blog name –you can use it here.
I’m sure, though, that if you do a basic Google search, you’ll find even more blog name generators.
6) Use a dictionary or Thesaurus
At some point, you might feel stuck. You might have a concept in mind, but you might also think that you run out of ideas. Based on the lists with blog names that you created above, try to find synonyms for all these words. Use a dictionary and try to see if you can get some new results. I use Thesaurus, and it’s always helpful. Is there another word for “suitcase” or for “citrus fruit?” Add them to your notes and make variations.
How to choose your blog name – Part 3: After finding the name(s)
So, after this procedure that might occupy your mind for days, you probably have a couple of blog names in mind. Now, it’s time to take further action and check a few extra things.
1) Make sure that the domain name is available
You might found the most awesome blog name, but if the domain name is not available, you might have to start all over again. Actually, your blog name must be your domain name. It doesn’t make sense to have two different names. That said, if you chose the blog name “Travel with P,” you should get the domain “wittysuitcase(dot)com.” How can you check things out?
Well, some web hosting providers will give you the domain name for free for the first year. I use Bluehost (I also wrote a review about their services here), and when you are about to sign up for a plan, you can check the availability of the domain names. You should try to get a “.com” domain for your blog. So, run the test and your desired domain availability. If it is, proceed to the next step up and sign up for a plan. Bluehost also comes with a one-click WordPress installation. That’s a big plus because most of the blogs out there use WordPress as their platform.
I partnered with Bluehost, and by following this link, you can get up to 60% off on their hosting plans.
2) Check if your blog name is available on Social Media
While this is not as important as the domain name, it’s also something to consider. As a rule of thumb, it’s always better to use the same name on social media. In other words (I stick to the same example), it’ll be confusing when you have a blog called “Witty Suitcase,” but your Instagram handle is “Travel with P,” your Twitter handle is “My journeys,” and so on.
However, here are a couple of things to consider. If you already have a successful presence in one Social Media channel (i.e., you work with brands), don’t change your handle. It’s a trademark, and as such, you shouldn’t change it. The second thing to consider is what you can do if the blog name is taken on Social Media. If that’s the case, and if you are 100% sure about your new blog name, try to be creative. Try @wittysuitcaseblog, for example, or any variation that doesn’t sound too confusing.
In my opinion, you shouldn’t sacrifice a good blog name that makes you feel comfortable for Social Media. For example, I had a successful Instagram account (@exil_et_royaume, you can follow me here) long before I started my travel blog. I worked with several brands throughout the years, and this was, somehow, my IG persona. Therefore, I decided to keep that odd name, and I just added my travel blog link. On the other hand, on Twitter, the name was taken, so I had to reverse the blog’s name (@barbara_letters, you can also follow me here).
While Social Media might be necessary for your blogging life, I wouldn’t let them ruin the name of your blog. If possible, try to go under the same name and add a link to your blog in each one of them.
Bonus: How to choose a travel blog name
Now, I’m adding this section because travel blogging is what I do. That said, I thought it might be useful if you are currently searching for travel blog name ideas. I think it might also be helpful for the ones in other niches because I’ll share here a few extra tips that could easily apply in every kind of blog. However, if you are not interested, feel free to proceed in the final two sections, where you can read my resources and a short conclusion.
So, since you are still in this section, let me add a couple of extra tips if you are trying to choose a travel blog name. Finding the right travel blog name might be even more challenging. The reason is that most travel bloggers can’t narrow down their niche easily. For example, you might start a travel blog about exploring your country, and you choose a blog name, including the name of your country. So, let’s say you start a blog called “All Around Greece,” and you write about Greece. But then, a year or two later, you start traveling abroad. You visit Italy, Spain, the United States, etc. Is it still compatible to write in your “All Around Greece” blog about other countries?
What I want to say here is that it’s better not to narrow down your travel blog geographically. Unless, of course, you are sure that you want to stick to just one country. If not, try to find something more generic but still compatible with your niche. That’s why I insisted on the very beginning of this post to have a clear concept in your mind. Sure, it’s your blog, and you can always move out a bit of the context (I’ll tell you shortly how), but it’s better not to leave the context altogether. Of course, even this is possible, but you’ll then have to rebrand the blog, buy a new domain, etc. So, it’s always better to have some breathing space in your blog name.
I would also suggest staying away from hyphens because it might be hard for people to memorize. The blog’s name has to be precise -and that’s the reason why I would also skip numbers. Pick a conceptual and easy-to-remember name, buy your domain together with your hosting plan, and start writing for your journeys.
Explaining my blog name: Letters to Barbara
I chose the name “Letters To Barbara” after trying for a couple of weeks to figure out a blog name. You can read more in the “About Me” section here, but here’s briefly what I had in mind. I always loved epistolary novels, and I wanted to combine them with travel writing. The idea was to narrate my journeys to Barbara, my girlfriend, in letter format. On the other hand, I wanted to write also other things about traveling or even thoughts about travel blogging, like the article you are now reading. I, therefore, created subsections that remained somehow in line with the old-fashioned concept of the letters. My travel memories and diary entries fall into the “Travel Journal section,” while my city guides are into the “Things to do.”
As you can see, while I named the blog “Letters To Barbara,” I tried not to trap myself geographically or artistically. That said, there’s always a way to enrich the content of your blog. While your blog name is also your business name, the truth is that it’s also the place that you can express yourself. Business names are fine, but they have no value if you suffocate because of the wrong concept. All you need is a concept that will serve as your blog’s identity, and then you can find your way through trial and error.
My blogging resources
In this section, I’m adding my blogging resources. While most of them deal with travel blogging, the truth is that they apply to every kind of blog. In these posts, I write about the things I learned while blogging, and there’s also a comprehensive guide on how to start a travel blog -or any kind of blog. So, here they are:
- How to start a travel blog (or any type of blog). That’s the guide I just told you. You can create a blog in just 30 minutes. I analyze the process step by step, and there are also loads of tips. Read this blogging guide here.
- 12 Things I learned after six months of travel blogging. That’s actually my very first post about blogging. It always brings a smile to my face because it’s about my first lessons. However, I still find those things relevant. Read the 12 things here.
- What I learned after a year of travel blogging. That’s the article I wrote for the first milestone of the Letters To Barbara. I celebrated it on the remote Greek island of Anafi, and it’s a long article. Read the article here.
- Blogging lessons I learned the hard way. Here it’s all about running a blog when everything seems to be falling apart. Read the 8 things I learned the hard way here.
- How to become a writer. If you want to be serious about your writing, you should build a writer’s mindset. I wrote a very long article on how to become a writer. Check the article about becoming a writer here.
- Blogging gear for minimalists. In this article, I’m presenting my blogging gear. Even though it’s more of travel blogging equipment, you can run every kind of blog with it. As for the minimalists, well, this translates not only to lightweight gear but also to just a small number of devices. I’m sure that it will save you money and trouble. Check my blogging equipment here.
- Bluehost Review: Pros, Cons & Tips. In this article, I’m reviewing my hosting provider, Bluehost. If you are just starting in the blogosphere, I believe that Bluehost is the best hosting provider. Read the review here.
- 12 Travel Writing Tips. Last but not least, that’s my ebook about travel writing. I’m offering the travel writing tips that have helped me write my travelogues for more than ten years now. You can see more info and purchase a copy of my ebook here.
- 10 reasons to start a blog. If you still don’t know if you want to start a blog, here you can find 10 reasons that might motivate you to create one.
- What you need to know before launching a blog. I broke down the 10 things you need to know before starting a blog.
- How much it really costs to start a blog. I narrowed down every possible expense for starting a blog.
- Blogging Workflow Bundle. In these two short ebooks, I share my blogging workflow. In their pages, you’ll find all the things you want to do before and after publishing a blog post. The bundle is currently on sale, and you can buy it here for 6,99 euros.
How to choose your blog name: Conclusion
Running a blog will keep you awake at night. You will have loads of ideas and also some worries. You want to see your blog grow, and you know that you’ll have to work on it a lot. However, finding the perfect blog name is a daunting task: pick the wrong one, and you might feel unmotivated to continue. Or, find the right one, a name that you will stand for it at any price, and see it grow. It might sound unimportant at first, but a blog name can define your success as a blogger. Follow the rules I mentioned above, do your brainstorming, write things down, and start writing. And, above all, let your personality shine.
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Last Updated on July 31, 2021 by George Pavlopoulos