5 Tools for picking a domain name

By raheem

Picking a domain name can be a frustrating process – brainstorming the right name, searching for availability, going thru moments of frustration that something so simple can become so consuming, etc. The following five tools will make this whole process much more easier – from brainstorming to searching availability.

PickyDomains.com — PickyDomains employs actual people who suggest names for your domain. The process begins by registering with the service, providing a description of your site, keywords and your preferences. Once your account is setup, they start suggesting names and you either flag them as “Like” or “Dislike”. As soon as you find a name you want, you “pick” the name and register it. The service costs $50.00 per domain name and you are charged only if you register a domain. My experience has been spotty. They certainly can come up with great names, but there is no consistency in the quality of names. But since you are not charged if you don’t register the name, it does not hurt to try. The good thing about using this service is that it makes you think hard about what your site should be about.

Thesaurus.com: This is probably one of the more useful ways to pick a name. I usually start by jotting down a few key words, and start entering them into the thesaurus. The thesaurus kind of helps you to think about your name from different angles because of the various synonyms it suggests. Unlike Microsoft Word, thesaurus.com suggest synonyms that are similar in meaning but are divergent enough to make you think – its a great brainstorming tool.

Web 2.0 Name Generator: This is a fun and easy website to use, especially if you just want a cool sounding name for your soon to be media empire. Simply go to the site and click on “Generate Name” and the site generates cool names.

Nameboy Name Generator: This site allows you to enter two keywords and then generates names using your input. Nameboy’s naming engine is not very sophisticated, but it is useful nonetheless.

Ajaxwhois.com: This site allows you to search for domain name availabilty. It is fast and very easy to use.