How to Choose a Name For Your Clothing Brand That Doesn't Suck

Choosing a name for your clothing brand is a decision that should be taken as seriously as life and death.

Yeah, you read that right, life, and death. If that sounds silly, or excessive to you, walk away right now. 

Okay, it's not that serious. But it's still pretty important. After all, your brand name is going to be the first thing people see and remember. It's going to be on your website, your social media, and your marketing materials. So you want to make sure it's a name that's memorable, unique, and relevant to your brand.

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a name for your clothing brand. You’ll want to make sure the name is:

Unique: You don't want to choose a name that's already been taken by another brand. (Believe me, “StarBoy” is taken)

Easy to remember: People should be able to remember your brand name without having to think too hard about it.

Relevant: Your name should be relevant to your brand's identity. If you’re in the luxury marketplace, your name shouldn't be something like "Dirty Ghetto Kids". Although an argument for DGK as a luxury brand could be made, in most scenarios, not a great idea. 

Available as a domain name: Owning your brand name’s domain is crucial, otherwise your website may be misleading or seem unprofessional. The same applies for your social accounts. Owning the real name is much more powerful than having to add some extra word or underscore. 

Pro Tip: If your desired domain is taken as a .com, see if the .store is available. Many brands operate under different domains these days, such as .store, .us, .world, and even .fun. Just make sure it actually makes sense to your brand. 

Now, let's get into the steps of actually creating your brand’s name. 

Step 1: Brainstorm a list of names

The first step is to brainstorm a list of potential names. Yep, grab out the ole pen and paper. Start by thinking about your brand's identity and what you want it to represent. What kind of clothing do you sell? Who is your target audience?

If your brand has a very direct audience (i.e. fans of anime) then it may be smart to use a name that is recognizable by anime-lovers. 

If your brand represents a specific group of people or value, find a name that represents that value or group. For example, the brand “Risk Takers”, is obviously marketed to people who would call themselves risk takers. 

Here are some of our favorite free tools to use when coming up with a brand name:

Relatedwords.org:

All you have to do is plug in a word or topic you like, i.e. space, and it will give you hundreds of related words to space. Very self-explanatory.

Name-generator.org.uk:

Again, very self-explanatory. Choose from many options like “Brand Name”, “Username”, or “Rapper Name”, have fun with it. A great source for brainstorming and inspiration. 

AI Chatbots & Generators:

I don’t care if you’re sick of hearing about AI and are over it. If you aren’t using AI programs to help with your business you are slacking! Don’t worry, we’ll do a full blog post on the topic soon.

AI chatbots like OpenAi’s Chat GPT, and Google’s Bard, are an excellent way to brainstorm names for your brand. Plus, they’re free to use. These chatbots will respond instantly and you can ask them to keep giving you names over and over. Listen, don’t expect them to do all the legwork for you, all of these sources are meant to assist you, not do it for you. 

Some questions you can ask them include:

What are some good names for my clothing brand that represents “X”?

I’m trying to come up with a name for my clothing brand. It’s for the people out there who “______”. Ideas?

If Playboi Carti started a new brand what would he call it?

Here’s another gem for you: BrandCrowd’s AI Business Name Generator. Type out a short explanation of your brand and it will give you tons of name ideas. The names seem to mostly be pretty straightforward, so for you edgy people who need some mysterious never-before-seen word, you might have some trouble. After generating name ideas, it will even auto-generate logos for you. No sign up even needed. Insane! 

Step 2: Narrow down your list

Once you have a list of potential names, it's time to narrow it down. Try to get your list down to a top 3. Here are some things to think about when narrowing down your list:

First, make sure it's memorable and that people can actually pronounce your name. You’ll also want to make sure it’s a name that you’d be happy to say and hear over and over again. Imagine someone saying, "Hey, John! How's your clothing brand going? What's it called again? Uh, Troglodyte Homonculus, right?" Believe it or not, that’s a real brand. What the fuck does that mean?

Second, make sure it’s available as a website and on social platforms. If your name is taken, you can always add something like “Studios, Collective, Worldwide, Your city/country, Gallery, Brand, etc.” 

Real examples of this include Indigo Studios, Basketcase Gallery, and Supreme New York. 

Third, what do you think of when you hear the name? Is it misleading? What do you want people to think?

Pro Tip: Pretend you were scrolling on Instagram and this brand pops up with the name on your list. What are your thoughts on it? What’s your first impression? 

It’s quite easy to get tunnel vision when choosing a name. Trying to gain different perspectives can help you realize if the name is truly a good fit for your brand or not.

Step 3: Test your name

Now, take your small list of names, and start asking the world. Ask friends, family, and potential customers for their feedback. Come back a few days later and see if they remember your name. Make a social page for it. See if you like the way it looks as a username. Type in the .com or .store, see if you like how that looks. Go over to Canva, make a simple logo using their templates. By actually putting the name to use you might realize it works great, or like a stinky pile of dog shit. 

Step 4: Choose a name

One day, sooner or later, you'll have to decide. It's crucial not to overthink it. Giving yourself enough time is important; finding the balance between settling for a good name and avoiding perfectionism is key. Take breaks, go for a walk, focus on other brand-related tasks, and let it simmer. Remember, the process of finding the right name takes time and patience. Trust your instincts and move forward confidently without second-guessing.

Examples of Successful Clothing Brand Names:

• Supreme: This name is short, memorable, and meaningful. It reflects the brand's identity as a high-end streetwear brand.
• Nike: This name is simple, but it's also very powerful. It's a Greek goddess of victory, which perfectly reflects the brand's focus on athletic performance.
• Adidas: This name is a combination of the founder's name, Adolf "Adi" Dassler, and the Latin word "adidas," which means "to increase." This name reflects the brand's mission to help people perform at their best.
• Levi's: This name is a reference to the brand's founder, Levi Strauss. It's a simple, but memorable name that has become synonymous with denim jeans.

A few extra tips:

• Don't be afraid to be creative. The best names are often the most creative ones 
• Don't be afraid to change your name later on. It does not have to be set in stone 

A few questions to ask:

• What name would I choose if I was making this brand for myself and myself only? (Like it’s the end of the world so it’s just you, like Will Smith in I Am Legend)
• Does this name actually resonate with me? Or is it just a variation of (insert that brand you were stalking earlier)’s name?
• Is this a name that will withstand the test of time? Or will it become irrelevant in a few years?

Choosing a name for your clothing brand is no small task. Your brand name will be the first impression people have of your business, so it needs to be memorable, unique, and fitting. Take your time, and find that sweet spot between settling and perfectionism. Remember, there's no such thing as a perfect name, and some of the biggest brands out there have names that make no meaning at all, or don’t even make sense. So, let your creativity flow, gather feedback, and when the moment comes, make a decision that feels right for your brand. 

And remember, choosing a good name for your clothing brand is important, but it's not the only thing that matters. You also need to create great products, market your brand effectively, and provide excellent customer service. But if you can choose a name that's memorable, relevant, unique, and available, you'll be well on your way to success.