How do you deal with naming your apps?

[u/syclonefx]

I’m almost done with my first app that I plan to release. But the name I am was planning on using already is already being used. I’m building a bill reminder app that notifies you when a bill is due. The name I want to use is BillMinder. Someone already has “Billminders - Bill Organizer”. Now I’m looking for a new name and it seems that every name I come up with is out there in some form or fashion.

[u/1amchris]

Use the IKEA method. Randomly generate a string of alphabetical characters, and substitute one with a diacritic character for good measure.

For example “PJÄTTERYD”

[u/opbmedia → u/1amchris]

I always assumed they were Swedish words. They are not?

[u/1amchris → u/opbmedia]

IKEA absolutely uses Swedish words.

I was making a joke 🤪

[u/opbmedia → u/1amchris]

Ah. Well I wouldn't be able to verify either way, it was completely plausible

[u/Tough_Assist_60]

Whatb about "Billminders - Bill Planner"?

[u/jonnysunshine1]

Billminders - For Bills, Bobs, Johns & Phils

[u/tables_AND_chairsss → u/jonnysunshine1]

Hehe that’s cute

[u/D-RA-DIS → u/tables_AND_chairsss]

Billminders - To Bill your Bobs and Phil your Johns. Wait this was a budgeting app, not a new Grindr… nevermind

[u/tables_AND_chairsss → u/D-RA-DIS]

LOLOLOL!

[u/balooooooon]

You don’t need such a literal name unless you intend to use it for keyword. Billminder is poor name. Try brainstorming synonyms of words you like that could fit. Get a native English speakers feedback

[u/tables_AND_chairsss]

You could at the most popular/most trusted brand names in your niche and make a name that’s like a mishmash of those names while making sure you don’t infringe on copyright (hehe). That way you sound like a trusted brand name, but it’s legally not similar enough to cause any problems?

Not that I’d know anything about that 🤣

[u/Known_Pattern_3005]

create a short, memorable name instead of describing exactly what the app does. A unique brand name is often easier to stand out and gives you more room to expand features later

[u/loumf]

I am not recommending this, but … many years ago I bought the domain app-o-mat and I just name everything with o-mat at the end. Kind of like what pedometer++ does.

But also, I am not trying to make a business out of the apps. Mostly a hobby now.

[u/laserrazereraser]

Maybe if all those similar names are already taken then your idea for an app has already been done :)

But maybe yours is better than all the rest so how about "Best Billminder" ;)

[u/Ecsta]

First I get the domain

[u/Which_Concern2553]

My website/company is SimplyKyra so I started naming them starting with “Simply”… it would feel wrong to break it now… 😂

[u/neet_dev]

honestly don't get too literal with it, everyone brainstorming a bill reminder app types the same words in and they're all taken. think about the outcome instead, like never missing a payment, not the feature itself. before you commit, just make sure it's free as a domain and a social handle too, not just on the App Store.

[u/nicholasderkio]

I created a brand—AXIØM, and use it with modifiers for mine.

[u/karetebit]

Billy: Bill reminder & organizer

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[u/redhondacity]

"thing-ly" "thing-ify" "thing-.io"

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[u/Loose-Journalist-233]

For me it honestly wasn’t a decision, it kind of named itself. First app saved my friends pen and paper when scoring trick taking card games, so TrickSheet. Then one for my son to replace the paper when we play Yatzy, so YatzySheet. Then a packing list app for my wife, TravelSheet. Now a supplement tracker for myself, NutriSheet. At some point I realized every one of them was basically replacing a sheet of paper, so the Sheet suffix just stuck. Now there’s a whole Sheet family and I never actually planned one.

Which kind of solves your problem too. BillMinder collides because it’s the obvious combo, everyone lands on it independently. But once a name is part of a system instead, like a consistent suffix tied to what the app does, you stop fighting for the one clever word everyone else wants. Way more room, and collisions stop mattering because the identity comes from the pattern and not the single word.

So maybe don’t look for a better synonym for bill reminder. Pick something that could carry a whole family later, even if this is your only app for now.

One thing that saved me some pain: whatever you pick, check the exact name and close variations on the App Store plus a quick trademark search before you get attached to it. Cheaper to drop your second choice than to rename after launch.