🌐 The Domain Naming: Build Your Digital Empire
Your domain name is your digital real estate — it's how customers find you, how investors judge your professionalism, and how you build brand recognition. Learn the proven strategies used by companies like Apple, Nike, and Tesla to create iconic digital identities.
This guide focuses on finding domains that are 8 characters or less, available at market rates (~$10-20/year), and perfect for building a scalable brand that can compete with the world's biggest companies.
"A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer's decision to choose one product or service over another."
— Seth Godin, Marketing Expert & Author
Short & memorable
8 characters or less for maximum impact and easy sharing.
Market rate pricing
Available to hand-register at ~$10-20/year, not premium resale prices.
Professional credibility
Build trust with investors and customers from day one.
Brand scalability
Grow with your business without needing a domain change.
1. The Psychology of Domain Names
From "Contagious: Why Things Catch On" by Jonah Berger
Domain names that are easy to remember, spell, and share have a higher chance of going viral. Understanding the psychology behind memorable names can give your startup a significant competitive advantage.
Real Example: Apple's Brand Strategy
Apple chose "apple.com" because it's simple, memorable, and has positive associations. The word "apple" is easy to spell, pronounce, and remember across all languages and cultures.
Strategy: Choose words that are universally understood and have positive emotional associations.
Real Example: Nike's Global Appeal
Nike.com works globally because "Nike" is short, memorable, and the Greek goddess of victory. The name transcends language barriers and creates instant brand recognition.
Lesson: Names that work across cultures have stronger global potential.
🧠 Cognitive Load
Shorter names require less mental effort to remember and type.
🔤 Phonetic Clarity
Names that sound like they're spelled are easier to share verbally.
🌍 Cultural Universality
Names that work across different languages and cultures.
2. Understand the Constraints
Length Requirements
- • 8 characters or less for maximum impact
- • 5-7 characters ideal for readability and memorability
- • Every character counts — shorter is better
Market Rate Definition
- • ~$10-20/year registration cost
- • Not premium resale domains
- • Available to hand-register immediately
- • No auction or negotiation required
TLD Strategy
- • .com preferred for maximum credibility
- • .co, .io, .ai strong alternatives for startups
- • Avoid obscure TLDs that hurt credibility
- • Consider registering multiple TLDs to protect your brand
3. Naming Strategies That Work
✅ Portmanteau / Mashups
Combine parts of two words to create something new and memorable.
Examples:
- • Notion = note + notion
- • Pinterest = pin + interest
- • Microsoft = micro + software
Tools:
- • NameMesh
- • LeanDomainSearch
- • Wordoid
✅ CVCV Patterns
Consonant-Vowel-Consonant-Vowel patterns are short, pronounceable, and highly brandable.
Examples:
- • Zyra.com
- • Miro.com
- • Fika.com
Why They Work:
- • Easy to pronounce
- • Memorable
- • Often available
✅ Unique Spellings
Drop vowels, swap letters, or use creative spelling to find available domains.
Examples:
- • Fndr.com (Finder)
- • Brnd.co (Brand)
- • Cr8t.com (Create)
Techniques:
- • Drop vowels (a, e, i, o, u)
- • Use numbers (4 = for, 8 = ate)
- • Swap similar letters
✅ Real Words (Obscure / Foreign)
Look up short words in Latin, Greek, or other languages with startup-friendly vibes.
Examples:
- • Nova (Latin: new)
- • Lux (Latin: light)
- • Kai (Hawaiian: sea)
Sources:
- • Latin dictionaries
- • Greek mythology
- • International languages
✅ Initials + Word
If your startup name is long, grab an acronym with a kicker.
Examples:
- • LKIT.io (LaunchKit)
- • MVP.ai (Minimum Viable Product)
- • API.co (Application Programming Interface)
Benefits:
- • Short and memorable
- • Often available
- • Professional appearance
🎯 Short Domains = Instant Credibility
Founder Reality Check: Tesla.com, Apple.com, Uber.com - notice a pattern? Short domains signal success. Long domains signal amateur hour.
The Pain: Your 15-character domain makes you look like a weekend hobby, not a serious business. Investors notice. Customers notice. Everyone notices.
4. Famous Business Strategies That Built Iconic Domains
The Tesla Strategy: Start Simple, Scale Complex
Tesla started with tesla.com—a simple, memorable name that honored inventor Nikola Tesla. As they expanded into multiple product lines, the simple domain name became more valuable, not less.
Strategy: Choose a domain name that can grow with your company, not one that limits you to a single product or service.
The Amazon Strategy: Own the Category
Amazon chose a name that started with "A" (alphabetical advantage) and represented the world's largest river. This strategic choice positioned them to dominate e-commerce and expand into any category.
Strategy: Choose names that position you as the leader in your category, not just a participant.
The Uber Strategy: Create a Verb
Uber chose a name that could become a verb ("uber it") and represents going above and beyond. This linguistic strategy helped them dominate the ride-sharing category and expand globally.
Strategy: Choose names that can become verbs or enter common language, creating organic marketing.
5. Tools & Methods to Find Available Names
Bulk Checkers
Check multiple domains at once to save time and find patterns.
Domain Generators
Use AI-powered tools to generate creative domain suggestions.
- • BrandBucket → inspiration (though they sell at premium)
- • Panabee → creative combinations
- • NameMesh → portmanteau generator
- • LeanDomainSearch → startup-focused
Pro Tips for Efficiency
- • Search 50-100 names at once using bulk tools
- • Eliminate anything over 8 characters immediately
- • Focus on .com first, then check alternatives
- • Use filters to narrow down results
6. Evaluation Criteria
When you find candidate domains, run them through this checklist:
✅ Pronounceable?
You want word-of-mouth potential. Test by saying it aloud to friends.
✅ Spellable?
No one should ask how to spell it twice. Test the "radio test."
✅ No Trademarks?
Quick USPTO search to avoid legal issues down the road.
✅ Scalable?
Does it sound like a product AND a company? Will it grow with you?
💡 Pro Tip: Test your top 3-5 candidates with potential customers and investors before making the final decision.
7. Pro Tricks: Market Rate Hacks
Alternative TLD Strategy
If the .com is taken but inactive, register .co or .io first.
- • .co = strong credibility in startup land
- • .io = tech/developer credibility
- • .ai = AI/tech credibility
- • These TLDs are often more available than .com
Suffix Strategy
Add a suffix while staying under 8 characters.
- • hq = headquarters (e.g., PingHQ.com)
- • app = application (e.g., TaskApp.com)
- • ai = artificial intelligence (e.g., ChatAI.com)
- • co = company (e.g., BuildCo.com)
Expired Domain Hunting
Use tools to catch recently expired domains at market rates.
- • expireddomains.net → catch drops
- • DomCop → expired domain monitoring
- • DomainTools → comprehensive domain research
- • Still available at ~$10-20 registration cost
8. Examples of Great Short Domains
| Domain | Length | Strategy | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe.com | 6 chars | Real word | Simple, sharp, professional |
| Notion.com | 6 chars | Real word | Flexible, abstract, future-proof |
| Miro.com | 4 chars | CVCV pattern | Short, memorable, brandable |
| Figma.com | 5 chars | Unique spelling | Creative, tech-focused |
| Slack.com | 5 chars | Real word | Short, memorable, ironic |
9. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Too long: Choosing domains over 8 characters
- ❌ Premium pricing: Paying hundreds/thousands for resale domains
- ❌ Hard to spell: Complex spellings that confuse users
- ❌ Limited TLDs: Only checking .com and giving up
- ❌ No trademark check: Ignoring potential legal issues
- ❌ Trend following: Everything ending in ".ai" or ".io"
10. Your 7-Day Domain Hunt Action Plan
Day 1-2: Research & Generate
- • Use domain generators to create 100+ candidates
- • Focus on 8 characters or less
- • Apply naming strategies from this guide
Day 3-4: Bulk Check Availability
- • Use bulk domain checkers
- • Check .com, .co, .io, .ai
- • Eliminate unavailable options
Day 5-6: Evaluate & Test
- • Run remaining candidates through evaluation criteria
- • Test with potential customers
- • Check trademark availability
Day 7: Register & Secure
- • Register your chosen domain
- • Secure social media handles
- • Consider trademark filing
🔑 Final Takeaway
The perfect domain name is:
- • 8 characters or less for maximum impact
- • Available at market rates (~$10-20/year)
- • Easy to pronounce and spell
- • Legally clean with no trademark conflicts
- • Scalable for future growth
A great domain name is an investment in your brand's future. Take the time to find the right one, and it will pay dividends in credibility, memorability, and professional appearance.
🚨 Bad Domains Kill Professional Credibility
Founder Reality Check: Investors reject startups with unprofessional domains. Customers don't trust 15-character domain names. Your domain is your digital first impression.
What a Bad Domain Costs You:
🚫 Lost Trust
Customers doubt legitimacy
💸 SEO Penalty
Harder to find online
📧 Email Issues
Spam filters block you
LaunchKit helps founders secure professional domains that build instant credibility. Don't let a bad domain sabotage your success.