Ask YC: A measurable way to decide between names for a startup?
I have narrowed it down to 4 names that are all available and all are a play on loosely the same two words... I've vetted the names amongst friends and no one has pointed out negative connotations or potential pitfalls to any of them. In my eyes i like all the names and don't really favor any one of the names ahead of the others (since they're all basically different forms and synonyms of the same play on words)
How then do I get a bigger data set to make my decision? Google adwords testing? Asking a question on mechanical turk?
What method will yield better results, are there others?...
Essentially I'd like to use the internet to mimic a market test, what's the best way? what's been successful for you guys?
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20 comments
| 11 points
| on HN
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funboxed.com was my vote, because it's the shortest and the sound rolled off my tongue.
sure a great product overcomes a terrible name but it'd be easier just to not have to leap that hurdle from the start
for example: 'reddit" can be redit, readit, red-it, read-it, red.it, read.it, redd.it "funbox" can be funboxes, funboks, funboss, fun-box, funnybox, funnyboxes, etc
The name that makes people click, out of curiosity or whatever motive, will likely be the better name. If you ever do advertise your site, you will have one factor in your favor already. It is ok if you don't have a "product," just put a "site coming soon" message up.