Domain Name Brainstormer v2
Find the perfect domain through research-backed naming strategies, competitor analysis, and intelligent pattern matching.
What's New in v2
- •Competitor Pattern Analysis: Study what works in your space
- •Naming Strategy Frameworks: Different approaches for different goals
- •Quality Scoring: Rate suggestions on memorability, length, pronounceability
- •Book/Product/Personal Brand Modes: Different strategies for different contexts
- •Smart Availability Checking: Guide users to verify, not guess
Step 1: Understand the Context
Before generating names, gather essential context:
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CRITICAL QUESTIONS: 1. What are you building? (book, product, personal brand, company) 2. Who is your audience? (developers, consumers, businesses) 3. What's the primary goal? (sales, authority, community) 4. What's your name/brand already? (existing recognition) 5. Will this be your ONLY project or one of many? 6. Is this a standalone product or part of a larger ecosystem?
Determine the Pattern Type
| Type | Examples | Domain Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Brand | jamesclear.com, wesbos.com | YourName.com |
| Book as Product | refactoringui.com, eloquentjavascript.net | BookName.com or concept.com |
| Multi-Book Author | patterns.addy.ie, prodengineer.org | Topic-specific domains |
| Company/Tool | stripe.com, vercel.com | Brandable made-up word |
| Community/Content | javascript.info, css-tricks.com | Descriptive + .com/.info |
Step 2: Research Competitors
For Books:
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Research 5-10 successful books in your niche: 1. What domains do they use? 2. Is it personal name or book-specific? 3. Do they use .com, .dev, .net, or other? 4. What's the pattern? (short, descriptive, brandable) 5. What do you want to emulate vs avoid?
For Products:
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Research direct competitors and adjacent tools: 1. What naming conventions dominate? 2. Are they descriptive (stripe.com) or brandable (vercel.com)? 3. What TLDs are standard in this space? 4. Are there naming trends to follow or buck?
Step 3: Generate Names Using Frameworks
Framework A: The Compound
Combine two relevant words.
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Examples: - code + academy = codecademy.com - web + flow = webflow.com - git + hub = github.com Pattern: [word1][word2].com Quality: High if both words are short and common
Framework B: The Modifier
Add a modifier to a core word.
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Modifiers: get, go, try, use, hey, hi, my, the, up Examples: - getdropbox.com (now dropbox.com) - golang.org - try figma.com Pattern: [modifier][word].com or [word][modifier].com Quality: Medium - can feel generic if overused
Framework C: The Abbreviation
Shorten long words or phrases.
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Examples: - practical junior devs → pjd.dev, prac.dev - frontend checklist → fc.dev, feck.dev - international business machines → ibm.com Pattern: First letters or syllable reduction Quality: High if pronounceable, low if random letters
Framework D: The Foreign Word
Use Latin, Greek, or other roots.
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Examples: - nova (new) - altus (high) - primus (first) - ars (art) Pattern: [latin/greek word].com Quality: High for international appeal, low if obscure
Framework E: The Abstract/Brandable
Create a unique, memorable made-up word.
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Examples: - stripe, vercel, notion, linear Techniques: - Remove vowels: flickr, tumblr - Add suffix: shopify, spotify - Combine syllables: pinterest (pin + interest) Pattern: [unique word].com Quality: High for differentiation, requires marketing investment
Framework F: The Exact Match
Exactly what people search for.
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Examples: - javascript.info - howtogeek.com - learnpython.org Pattern: [exact search term].com/.org/.info Quality: High for SEO, low for brandability
Step 4: Quality Score Each Suggestion
Rate every suggestion on a 1-10 scale for:
| Criteria | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Length | High | Under 10 chars? Easy to type? |
| Memorability | High | Will they remember it tomorrow? |
| Pronounceability | High | Can you say it on a podcast? |
| Spelling | Medium | Can they spell it after hearing it? |
| Uniqueness | Medium | Distinct from competitors? |
| TLD Fit | Low | Does .com/.dev/.io fit the audience? |
Minimum viable score: 7/10
Step 5: Present Structured Recommendations
Format:
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🎯 ANALYSIS: [Project type determined] Based on your [book/product/personal brand] and research on [competitors], here are domain strategies that fit: ## Option 1: [Strategy Name] [Domain].com Score: X/10 - Why: [reasoning] - Pros: [benefits] - Cons: [drawbacks] - Availability: Check at [link] ## Option 2: [Strategy Name] [Domain].com Score: X/10 - Why: [reasoning] - Pros: [benefits] - Cons: [drawbacks] - Availability: Check at [link] ## Option 3: [Strategy Name] [Domain].com Score: X/10 - Why: [reasoning] - Pros: [benefits] - Cons: [drawbacks] - Availability: Check at [link] 🏆 RECOMMENDATION: [Domain] Rationale: [why this fits best] Next Steps: 1. Check availability at porkbun.com or namecheap.com 2. Verify social media handles (@domain on X/Twitter, Instagram) 3. Say it out loud 3 times 4. Ask 2 people to spell it after hearing it 5. Register immediately if available
Step 6: Avoid Common Mistakes
❌ Don't Suggest:
- •Hyphens (hard to communicate)
- •Numbers (is it "4" or "four"?)
- •Homophones (to/too/two, hear/here)
- •Double letters (bookkeeper - easy to misspell)
- •Trademarked terms
- •Obscure words requiring explanation
- •Long domains over 15 characters
❌ Don't Claim:
- •"This is available" without checking
- •"This is the best" without context
- •Specific pricing without current data
✅ Always:
- •Provide reasoning for each suggestion
- •Suggest 3-5 quality options, not 20 mediocre ones
- •Guide users to verify availability themselves
- •Consider the full brand (domain + social handles)
- •Think about the 5-year future, not just today
Example Output (Quality)
User: "I need a domain for my junior developer book"
Research:
- •Competitors: personal domains dominate (wesbos.com, jamesclear.com)
- •Exceptions: book-as-product uses book domains (refactoringui.com)
- •Your context: single book, direct sales, standalone product
Analysis: Book-as-product pattern fits best
Suggestions:
Option 1: The Abbreviation
jrdevpath.com Score: 8/10
- •Why: Short, clear, outcome-focused (path to junior dev)
- •Pros: 10 chars, memorable, action-oriented
- •Cons: "jr" abbreviation might confuse some
- •Check: porkbun.com/domain/jrdevpath.com
Option 2: The Outcome
firstdevjob.com Score: 7/10
- •Why: Direct outcome readers want
- •Pros: Clear value proposition, SEO-friendly
- •Cons: 12 chars, limiting (only about first job)
- •Check: porkbun.com/domain/firstdevjob.com
Option 3: The Concept
devstart.com Score: 8/10
- •Why: Universal concept, works in multiple languages
- •Pros: Short, brandable, room to grow
- •Cons: Generic, might be taken
- •Check: porkbun.com/domain/devstart.com
🏆 RECOMMENDATION: jrdevpath.com Rationale: Balances brevity with clarity. "Jr dev" is standard shorthand, "path" implies journey/process which matches book content. Can expand to courses/community later.
Availability Checking (Manual)
Since automated availability checking requires API keys and rate limits:
Step 1: Go to instantdomainsearch.com Step 2: Type each suggestion Step 3: Green = available, Red = taken Step 4: If taken, try variations (add "the", "my", try different TLD)
Alternative checkers:
- •porkbun.com (clean interface, good prices)
- •namecheap.com (reliable, popular)
- •domains.google (now Squarespace, simple)
Version History
v2.0 - Current
- •Added competitor research framework
- •Added 6 naming frameworks (Compound, Modifier, Abbreviation, Foreign, Abstract, Exact Match)
- •Added quality scoring system
- •Added pattern types (Personal Brand, Book as Product, etc.)
- •Improved recommendation format
- •Removed false "availability checking" claims
v1.0 - Original
- •Basic domain brainstorming
- •Generic suggestions without research
- •Claimed to check availability (false)
Inspired by: Ben Aiad's use case from Lenny's Newsletter Research contributors: Fury (competitor analysis), David Dias (pattern validation)