How to Choose an App Name?

One of the most common questions asked when building an app is – how to choose an app name? Should it be catchy? Meaningful? Search engine optimized? Does it really matter? Yes, it does!

After your icon, the app name is the first thing users see when searching the app store. Your app name should be relevant and showcase its functionality, creating a good balance between keywords and branding. Just like your app idea, your name should be unique and choosing it correctly is a technique in itself.

Step 1, Identify your app’s audience and primary purpose

One of the first steps towards choosing an app name is to identify your audience and your app’s primary purpose. It will lay the groundwork for crafting the perfect name, tone and message you wish to communicate. You want to envision people chatting about your app, so the name should roll off the tip if your tongue and leave a good impression on those who hear it.

For example, app names for finance entrepreneurs or celebrity groupies are going to take on different tones and appeal differently to audiences. So take the time to make sure it’s easy to pronounce and communicate, especially if you plan on going global. Also, you want your app name to grow with your brand. You may also want to choose an app name that can explain its functionality over time. If you have a translation app just for text, but foresee growth with images, voice and videos, it’s best not to name your app “Text Translator”. But don’t undervalue your product, you want to pick a name that broadcasts the true value of your app.

Step 2, Do market and keyword research

Next, do thorough keyword research and curate keywords based on relevancy, difficulty, competition level and search volume. Additionally, check out similar apps to gain inspiration and see how their names evoke feelings from their audience. See if there are any current trends such as Spotify, Gamify, Shopify, etc. However, make sure your app is “one of a kind”. Use a search engine and see if your app name is used somewhere else on the web. Just because it’s not in the app store, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. You want your branding to be unique, especially as you’ll be marketing this app through numerous PR and media channels. Also, iOS won’t let you piggy-back on a different app already in the Apple Store, so if you choose to copy, your proposal will be rejected.

Step 3, Get creative and functional with keywords

It’s important to know that the title and the keywords list in the Apple App Store carry the most weight, so use them as a descriptive anchor. For Google Play, keywords in the app name generally rank higher than keywords from other sources. To prevent keyword stuffing, iOS apps can only have 50 characters for app names, and Google Play allows 30. Thus, get creative with your keywords and think of something unique and brandable. For example, Instant + Telegram = Instagram! These creative ideas attract organic and free traffic to your app, so use them! Your app’s name should serve as a green light for search engines. What about the app, PicDish? Just as it sounds, the app is designed for amateur food photographers who discover the world through local food. Is the app name relevant to it’s primary purpose and function? Yes.

In conclusion, creating an app name is a pivotal point of the ASO process. These tips can help assist you in the right direction and get your mind rolling. We wish you the best of luck!