Last Updated on October 20, 2020 by J.SCALCO
A band name can make or break your music brand – it’s as simple as that! Think about it; that split-second decisions of settling on a band name (e.g., after running a band name generator) determines what will be stamped on your merch or what will appear in music charts for the foreseeable future.
It’s the mention of those few branded words that’ll send fans screeching in euphoric excitement—triggering a well of emotions and creating fond memories. In a nutshell, your band name is literary your identity and representation to the world—so you cannot afford to mess up.
The Challenge of Finding a Band Name
But then again, finding a band name is not a straightforward exercise. It demands a certain level of linguistic creativity and artistry. Unless your stars are aligned perfectly and you’re in possession of a truckload of lucky rabbits’ feet, you’re unlikely to stumble on an awesome band name.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, but you could do better most of the time by putting some thought to the naming process. That, and keeping tabs on some of the best practices—such as using a guided or random band name generator.
If you’re in a band (or planning to whip one up in your garage), I’m sure your oozing with raw excitement at the thought of all the opportunities before you. There’s also a good chance that you’re spending countless hours writing songs, tuning the instruments, and rehearsing.
To ease your load—while boosting your odds of landing a sic band name—consider using a band or group name generator. Alternatively, you can go the old-fashioned way by brainstorming some ideas—albeit a few tricks and tips that I have in store for you.
Option A – Using a Band Name Generator
It’s hassle-free, it offers some great-sounding options, and it’s instant – using a group name generator sounds like a no-brainer. Whether your band is into metal, rock, or you’ve not really defined your genre, here’s how a band name generator might help:
Metal Band Name Generator
Are you part of a heavy metal band? Is shredding hard-woven into your DNA? Do your riffs bleed metal? If so, great—rock on! But does your band name do your whole metal identity justice?
If you have second thoughts and something tells you that your band name is not “metal” enough—then it probably isn’t. In such a case, you’ll appreciate a good metal band name generator to help keep your whole metal vibe alive.
Fun fact: Did you know that heavy metal and other genres of extreme music help combat negative emotions? According to the findings of a study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, heavy metal is not the culprit to causing feelings of isolation, depression, or anger—it does the opposite.
The researchers concluded that “The findings indicate that extreme music did not make angry participants angrier; rather, it appeared to match their physiological arousal and result in an increase in positive emotions. Listening to extreme music may represent a healthy way of processing anger for these listeners.”
Rock Band Name Generator
There’s something about rock music that reaches down into the deepest corners of your psyche and yanks you to sync with the beat. If there’s a song that would make a grown man/woman sing off-key while in traffic and break into inspired air guitar solos—it must be rock music.
Whether you’re into Afro-Punk, Indie, Alternative, or Psychedelic, rock band names are typically some of the most creative, out-of-the-box formulations. And before you let down the rock nation, a rock band name generator might just do the trick for you.
Oh, and did you know that Rock (with a 58.6% share of consumers) still remains the most popular music genre in the U.S. according to the latest figures by Statista?
Group Name Generator
Let’s say you don’t identify as a band and your main focus is on the vocal part of music and less on music—in which case you need to use the best condenser recording microphones for vocals.
(PS: the distinguishing definition of the terms “band” and “group” in music is often divisive—with different interpretations. But that’s not why we’re here).
Now, if you’re looking for a catchy, slick, and memorable band name to reflect your identity or influence how the fans perceive you, then you’ll love the convenience of a group name generator. Depending on the specific online generator you go for, you can fine-tune/sort the options to create a truly unique group name.
Random Band Name Generator
Wait! What if a metal band name generator, rock name generator, or even a group name generator doesn’t meet the characteristics of your band’s music/persona? Well, how about you randomize it?
A random band name generator does exactly what it says – i.e., it generates band names randomly. This should cover every other genre of music since the possible combinations are nearly endless (at least more than you can reasonably process).
Option B – Winging It (*Creative Hats ON)
You want a cool name; band name generators don’t seem to capture the true essence of your band; what next? At times, a cool name lies within—and you only need the right nudge or eureka moment to give your band an identity.
Here are some tips to get you started in cooking up a kick-ass band name that’ll hopefully rouse curiosity/interest in your lyrical offering.
- Start the Simplest Way Possible, with a Name
No, I’m not joking. Sometimes a great band name is already with you—you just need to know how to turn it into a catchy stage persona. A good example is the highly successful and legendary band, ABBA. Their band name is undeniably catchy, yet it’s just an acronym for their initials. To quote the great Leonardo da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Contemplate that for a few seconds.
PS: If you’re the only bandleader, don’t shy away from implying exactly that in your band’s name—but leave room for some flexibility. Jon Bon Jovi went with this approach, and I don’t think I need to introduce Bon Jovi to anyone (unless you’ve been living under a rock on a remote island in the middle of the Bermuda triangle).
- Plurals Seem to Work
Find a noun (don’t be shy, feel free to go wild with this one); add an adjective such as “The” at the beginning; pluralize the noun, and there you have it—a cool sounding band name. This is the formula adopted by some of the greatest bands to grace the airwaves—including The Beatles.
- Go Wild with Animal Names
From Birds of Tokyo, Arctic Monkeys, The Monkees, Snoop Dog (not a band, but Snoop more than earns the recognition), Pussy Cat Dolls, Gorillaz, to Papa Roach—animal-inspired bands seem to work out just fine. Just remember to add a ring to it for a unique flair.
- Find Inspiration from Your Surrounding
Anyone else ever think about how Vanilla Ice got his name? Marshmello? What about Red Hot Chili Peppers? Or even one of the best rock bands in history, AC/DC? I’ll go out on a limb and assume they just stared at random things in their environment and a figurative bulb popped up on one of their heads.
- Play the Word Game
This is where you pool your minds as a band to summon the collective creativity. Combine words, try out cheeky rhymes, or even spoonerisms such as Com Truise (adopted from Tom Cruise by switching the first letters).
You can also have a brainstorming session with other band members—whereby your collect all ideas (no matter how awful) and find a way to merge/twist them into a catchy name that all of you approve.
- Leave it to Chance/Destiny
If you’re not up for mental processing, you can simply wing it by playing games. But keep in mind that you may have to repeat the process until you find a band name you can sensibly work with. The brand name generator can also play a role in keeping the creative juices running and fun brimming.
- Give the Target Fans What They Want
What interests your target audience? Think about the characteristics of the demographic and craft your name around something they’d relate to and celebrate. A good example is Green Day—who are said to have arrived at their unique band name in reference to a slang term used to describe the practice of smoking pot all day by kids in San Francisco.
What Makes a Great Band Name?
Before you run wild with you band name generator or brainstorming, there are a few things you should keep in mind (band naming rules, if you may):
- Unique and Legal
The first thing you want to do is ensure the band name is not a blatant imitation of an already existing name. No one likes a copycat—regardless of how good your tunes are. And kindly steer clear of ‘generic’ and overpopularized names that seem to be everywhere you turn. Don’t name your band the Wolf XXX if there are countless other wolf-inspired band names. It just doesn’t sound original—and the fans might not be so welcoming.
Aside from creating confusion among the audience, such a name could lead to legal repercussions for copyright/trademark infringements. For this, proceed with an internet background check and run your chosen name through the U.S Patent and Trademark Office website.
- Complement Your Online Presence
In this day and age, your online presence plays a major in pretty much every part of your life—including finding an awesome band name. Ensure the domain for your band name is available—same with social media pages.
It should also be unique enough to appear as the first option for the particular band keywords on Google. The idea is to avoid conflicts that might negatively affect your traffic, conversions, and general online presence.
- Easy to Spell, Pronounce, and Read
Your band name must be easily discernable by an ordinary fan. Using hard spellings or pronunciations defeats the purpose of being a household name. This also applies for searchability on the internet. How are people supposed to find if they can’t even type your name?
- Don’t Overthink Things
Don’t get me wrong, putting some thought to your brand name is important—especially for a long-term music career. It’ll likely be the name people will know you by for a large chunk of your life.
But overthinking the process might be counterintuitive and defeat the whole purpose of the exercise. Instead, incorporate some level of chance by using band name generators and then slightly modifying the names to match your characteristics.
- Make Your Brand Name Memorable/Catchy
You’ll want your fans to easily remember your band/group name. So aim for a name that tends to stick with you and your audience. It should roll off the tongue with ease.
It’s also advisable to consider how the brand name will fair in marketing campaigns designed to create brand awareness while promoting your music. An awesome band name should be cool and relatively short enough to fit on stickers, hats, T-shirts, and other merchandise.
- Reflect the Imagery or Vision of the Band
Your brand name is only part of a whole. It should create a sort of synergy with other facets of your band such as the personalities of the members and your sound. Audiences should have a rough picture of the music to expect based on your band name and branding.
Ready to Crank Up that Band Name Generator?
The takeaway is that there’s a whole bunch of brand name generators out there—whether they’re metal band name generators, rock band name generators, group name generators, or just random brand name generators.
And while the importance of a band name cannot be understated, it’s merely one part of the equation. You have to actually make songs, building a community of raving fans, let your talent shine, and release your kick-ass jams to Apple Music, Spotify, and other digital music streaming services.
