Every single English dictionary word followed by .com was registered years ago. Two-word combinations are nearly exhausted. Finding a good, available domain name in 2025 requires strategy, not luck.
I have registered dozens of domains over the years and developed a systematic approach that works.
The naming strategies that still find available domains
Compound words: Combine two short words that are not the obvious pairing. "Basecamp" works because nobody thought to combine "base" and "camp" for project management. Think of word combinations that evoke your product's value without being literal. "Mailchimp," "Dropbox," "Slack" -- none of these are obvious combinations for their products.
Modified spelling: Intentional misspellings or shortenings. "Tumblr" drops the E. "Flickr" drops the E. "Dribbble" adds a B. This works but can cause confusion when people try to type your URL from memory.
Prefix/suffix patterns: Add "get," "try," "use," "go," or "hey" as a prefix. "getnotion.com" instead of "notion.com." This is a common fallback for startups and usually finds available options. The downside is it feels second-choice.
Invented words: Completely made-up words that sound good and are easy to spell. "Spotify," "Zillow," "Venmo." These require more marketing effort to establish meaning but are always available (check trademarks though).
Acronyms and initialisms: Works for brands that plan to be known by their initials. AWS, IBM, HBO. For startups, this is risky because an unknown acronym has zero inherent meaning.
What makes a good domain name
Short: Under 12 characters is ideal. Every additional character increases typo probability and decreases memorability.
Easy to spell: If you have to spell it out when speaking ("it's app with two P's"), you will lose traffic to the standard spelling.
Easy to pronounce: The "radio test" -- if you hear the name spoken, can you immediately type it correctly?
No hyphens: Hyphens are hard to communicate verbally and look unprofessional. "my-great-app.com" loses to "mygreatapp.com" every time.
No numbers: "app2.com" creates confusion with "apptwo.com" and "app-2.com."
Memorable: Distinctive enough that someone hears it once and remembers it later. Generic names ("besttools.com") are forgettable.
The search process
- Brainstorm 20-30 name ideas without checking availability
- Filter to the top 10 based on the criteria above
- Check availability on all 10
- For any that are taken, check if the .com is actively used
- Register immediately if you find a winner
Do not search one at a time and get emotionally attached before checking availability. The batch approach prevents disappointment and keeps your options open.
The generator
For brainstorming name ideas systematically, I built a domain name generator that combines keywords, prefixes, suffixes, and naming patterns to produce available domain suggestions. Start with your core concept and explore the variations.
I'm Michael Lip. I build free developer tools at zovo.one. 500+ tools, all private, all free.
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