Tech Startup Naming Trends in 2026: What's Working Now

The Evolution of Tech Startup Names

Every era has its naming trends. The 2000s loved dropping vowels (Flickr, Tumblr). The 2010s added "-ly" and "-ify" to everything. The 2020s brought AI-prefixed names. Here's what's working in 2026.

Trend 1: Real Words Are Back

After years of invented names and awkward misspellings, startups are gravitating toward real English words. Linear, Notion, Arc, Craft, Raycast — these are dictionary words used in new contexts.

Why it works: Real words have built-in meaning and memorability. Your brain doesn't have to work to process them.

The catch: Real-word .com domains are expensive or taken. Budget $5,000–$100,000 or get creative with the specific word you choose.

Trend 2: Short and Brutal

One-syllable names are trending: Arc, Warp, Bolt, Dub, Clay. These names hit hard, are easy to type, and look great in logos and UI elements.

Why it works: Attention spans are shrinking. A one-syllable name is impossible to forget and trivial to type in a URL bar.

Trend 3: Human-Sounding AI Names

As AI becomes ubiquitous, startups avoid robotic-sounding names. Instead of "Neural AI Solutions," modern AI companies choose warm, approachable names: Claude, Jasper, Harvey, Perplexity.

Why it works: AI companies need trust. Human-sounding names reduce the uncanny valley effect and make products feel like tools, not threats.

Trend 4: Verbs as Names

Action words signal what the product does: Zoom (video), Stripe (payments), Loom (video recording), Pitch (presentations). The verb itself becomes the brand verb: "Just Zoom me."

Why it works: When your name becomes a verb in everyday usage, you've achieved the ultimate brand recognition.

Trend 5: Geographic and Nature Words

Startups are borrowing from geography and nature: Canyon, Watershed, Sequoia (the firm), Glacier, Tundra. These names feel grounded and timeless compared to tech jargon.

Why it works: Nature and geography names have gravitas. They suggest permanence in an industry known for impermanence.

Trend 6: Minimal Branding

The visual trend of simple, lowercase logos (like stripe, notion, linear) means names need to look good in clean sans-serif type at small sizes. This pushes toward shorter names with balanced letter shapes.

What's Declining

"-AI" Suffixes

In 2023-2024, every startup was "Something AI." By 2026, this feels generic. The best AI companies don't need the label.

Random Vowel Removal

"Flickr" was novel. "Readr" or "Trackr" now feels like a naming crutch.

Overly Abstract Names

Names so abstract that nobody can guess what the company does are falling out of favor. Clarity is valued again.

Greek/Latin Prefixes

"Omni-," "Meta-," "Neo-" — these prefixes are oversaturated and feel interchangeable.

How to Choose a Name That Ages Well

Avoid trend-dependent patterns. If it feels trendy now, it'll feel dated in three years.
Choose timelessness over cleverness. "Apple" has worked for fifty years. "Cuil" lasted two.
Think about the product, not the category. Don't name yourself after the technology (blockchain, AI, cloud). Technologies change.
Check availability early. The best names are available right now — but won't be for long.

Use BrandScout to check domain and social availability for your startup name ideas.

The Naming Process for Tech Startups

Budget for the Domain

Many successful startups set aside a domain acquisition budget from their first funding round. A clean .com is a business asset worth investing in.

Test With Your Target Users

B2B startups should test names with potential customers: "Would you trust a product called X?" B2C startups should test for memorability and emotional resonance.

Plan for International Markets

If you'll expand globally, check your name in major languages. What works in English might mean something unintended in Mandarin, Hindi, or Spanish.

Your Startup Naming Checklist

[ ] Under three syllables
[ ] Easy to spell and pronounce
[ ] .com domain available (or acquirable)
[ ] Not trend-dependent
[ ] Works internationally
[ ] Trademark-clear in your product category
[ ] Looks good in a sans-serif logo

Start your startup naming research with BrandScout — check availability across every channel in seconds.