Online Course Brand Naming: Make Your Course Unforgettable

Why Course Names Drive Enrollments

When someone browses Udemy, Skillshare, or your sales page, the course name is the first filter. A clear, compelling name communicates value and gets clicks. A vague one gets scrolled past.

Naming Your Course vs. Naming Your Brand

There are two distinct naming challenges:

1. The course brand — Your teaching identity (e.g., "Coding Academy by Sarah")
2. Individual course names — The specific product (e.g., "Python Fundamentals in 30 Days")

This guide covers both, because they need to work together.

Course Brand Naming Strategies

Your Name + Niche

"Marie Forleo's B-School" and "Ramit Sethi's Earnable" leverage personal authority. If you have an audience, your name is your brand.

Academy/School/Lab Format

Adding "Academy," "School," "Lab," or "Institute" signals structured learning:

• Design Lab
• Growth Academy
• Code School

Invented Names

Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and Skillshare all use invented names. If you're building a platform rather than a personal brand, this gives you room to grow.

Individual Course Name Formulas

The Outcome Promise

Name the result students will achieve:

• "Launch Your Freelance Business"
• "Master Excel in 7 Days"
• "Write Your First Novel"

The Transformation

Frame it as a before-and-after:

• "From Zero to Data Scientist"
• "Beginner to Pro Photographer"
• "Couch to 5K for Creatives" (metaphorical)

The Method Name

Create a branded methodology:

• "The PARA Method" (Tiago Forte)
• "The 12 Week Year System"
• "StoryBrand Framework"

This approach is powerful because students associate the method name with your course forever.

SEO Considerations for Course Names

Course marketplaces have search engines. Optimize for them:

• Include the primary skill or topic in the name
• Add the level (Beginner, Advanced, Masterclass)
• Keep it under ten words
• Avoid jargon that beginners won't search for

On your own website, the course name becomes a URL slug and page title. Both matter for Google rankings.

Building a Course Brand Identity

Your course brand should extend beyond any single course:

1. Domain name — Own your brand's .com for a professional landing page
2. Social handles — Build a community around your brand on social platforms
3. Email list — Send course updates from a branded domain
4. Consistent design — Use the same visual language across all courses

Check domain and social availability for your course brand with BrandScout.

Naming Mistakes to Avoid

• Being too vague: "Business Mastery" could mean anything
• Being too specific: "How to Use the Lasso Tool in Photoshop CC 2026" is a video title, not a course name
• Overusing buzzwords: "Ultimate," "Definitive," and "Complete" have lost all meaning
• Copying competitors: If someone already has "The Complete Web Developer Course," differentiate

Test Your Course Name

Before launch, validate:

• Ask your target audience: Share two to three options in a poll on social media
• Check search volume: Use Google Trends to compare interest in different phrasings
• Preview it on marketplaces: How does it look in Udemy's search results? Does it stand out?

Your Course Naming Checklist

• [ ] Clear outcome or transformation stated
• [ ] Target audience implied (beginner/advanced)
• [ ] Under ten words
• [ ] Includes a searchable keyword
• [ ] Doesn't duplicate existing popular courses
• [ ] Course brand has available domain and social handles
• [ ] Works as a URL slug

Name your course brand, then build your digital presence around it. Start by checking availability with BrandScout.