Find an app name people remember
Describe what your app does and get brandable names that fit Apple's 30-character limit, each with a subtitle idea. Then use the guide below to pick the one that will rank and stick.
How to use the app name generator
Type a short description of what your app does, such as "budget planner for couples" or "habit tracker with streaks", and choose a style. The generator creates twelve names at a time, each with a subtitle idea and live character counts against Apple's limits. Tap any name to search for it, and press Generate again for a fresh set.
There are four styles:
- Brandable: short invented words with a friendly ending, like the names of many consumer apps.
- Compound: two real words joined together, which are easy to say and spell.
- Descriptive: names that say what the app does, which help search but are harder to trademark.
- Playful: lighter, fun names for games, kids' apps and social products.
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What makes a great app name
A great app name does four jobs at once: it is memorable, it hints at what the app does, it can be owned legally, and it helps people find you in search. Very few names do all four perfectly, so naming is about trade-offs.
Short and easy to say. If someone hears your app's name in a podcast, they should be able to find it without seeing it written. Avoid unusual spellings and numbers that can be written two ways.
Distinctive in your category. A name that sounds like three competitors will be forgotten. Look at the top apps in your category and choose something that stands apart.
Room to grow. "Yoga Booking" limits you if you later add pilates and meditation. A broader brand with a descriptive subtitle gives you flexibility.
Ownable. Descriptive names like "Photo Editor" cannot be trademarked and are hard to defend. Invented or compound names are easier to protect.
Apple's limits and where your name appears
App Store Connect gives you 30 characters for the app name and 30 for the subtitle. The full name appears on your App Store page and in search results, but on the home screen only the short name under the icon is shown, and it is usually truncated after about 12 characters. That is why many apps use a short brand name with a keyword after a colon or dash, which is cut off on the home screen but visible in the store.
| Field | Limit | Indexed for search | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| App name | 30 characters | Yes | Store page, search results, home screen (truncated) |
| Subtitle | 30 characters | Yes | Under the name on the store page and in search |
| Keyword field | 100 characters | Yes | Hidden, used only for search |
| Promotional text | 170 characters | No | Top of the description, editable without a new version |
The name plus subtitle formula
Because Apple indexes the name and subtitle together, the most effective pattern for most apps is a short brand followed by the most important keyword, with a benefit in the subtitle.
- Name: Brand: Main keyword. Example: "Habitly: Habit Tracker".
- Subtitle: Benefit with a second keyword. Example: "Daily goals, streaks & routine".
- Keyword field: Other relevant terms, without repeating words already used above.
Try your combination in the free ASO keyword tool, which flags duplicates and wasted characters.
Five ways to brainstorm names
- Blend two words. Combine your core idea with a feeling: "Calm" plus "Ledger" becomes "Calmledger".
- Shorten and add a suffix. Take a key word and add -ly, -ify, -io or -o: "Budget" becomes "Budgo".
- Use a metaphor. Name the app after what it feels like: a nest for saving, a compass for travel, a forge for building.
- Borrow from another language. Short words from other languages can be distinctive, but check the meaning carefully with native speakers.
- Describe the outcome. "Done", "Ready" or "Rested" focus on what the user gets, not what the app is.
Free: The App Naming Worksheet
A one-page worksheet to shortlist, test and validate your app name, including trademark and App Store checks.
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How to test a shortlist
Once you have five to ten candidates, test them before you fall in love with one.
- The radio test. Say the name out loud to five people and ask them to spell it.
- The recall test. Show the shortlist, wait an hour and ask which ones people remember.
- The meaning test. Ask what kind of app each name suggests. If nobody guesses your category, rely on the subtitle.
- The search test. Search the App Store for each name and see what comes up. Avoid names that return a dominant competitor.
- The fit test. Put each name next to your icon concept and screenshots. Some names simply look right.
Legal and availability checks
A name you cannot own is a liability. Before you commit:
- App Store availability. Create the app record in App Store Connect; it will tell you if the name is already taken.
- Trademarks. Search the USPTO in the US and the WIPO Global Brand Database for international marks in your category. For important launches, ask a trademark attorney.
- Domains and handles. Check that a reasonable domain and the main social handles are available.
- Competitor names. Never include another company's brand in your name, subtitle or keywords. Apple's metadata guidelines prohibit it.
Naming mistakes to avoid
Keyword stuffing. "Budget Planner Money Tracker Expense App" looks spammy, may be rejected and is impossible to remember.
Generic names. "Notes" or "Fitness" cannot be owned and get lost in search.
Hard spellings. Dropping vowels or using numbers creates a name people cannot type.
Names that do not travel. Check meanings in the languages of your target markets.
Changing names repeatedly. Each change resets some of the recognition you have built.
Examples of naming patterns
| Pattern | Example | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invented word | Zentro | Highly ownable | Needs a descriptive subtitle |
| Compound | DayNest | Easy to say and remember | Check trademarks carefully |
| Brand + keyword | Habitly: Habit Tracker | Good for search | Keep the brand short |
| Descriptive | Simple Budget | Clear meaning | Hard to trademark, crowded |
| Metaphor | Compass | Memorable story | Often already taken |
These examples are illustrations; check availability before using any of them.
From name to icon and store page
Your name, icon and first screenshot work together. Once you have a name, create a matching icon with the free app icon maker and draft your first screenshots with the screenshot generator. When you are ready to publish, the App Store Studio prepares every asset Apple requires.
Let Muaz.io name and build the whole app
If you are starting from scratch, Muaz.io can suggest names as part of the product brief, informed by research into your competitors' names and keywords. Paste your website or describe your idea in the builder above, and the agents will propose names, design an icon and build an original app you can test on your iPhone.
Naming by category
Different categories reward different naming styles. Games often use playful, evocative names that hint at the experience, such as an action, a place or a character type. Finance apps benefit from names that signal trust and clarity, so invented words with a calm sound and a clear subtitle work well. Health and fitness apps often use names that describe the outcome, like energy, strength or calm. Productivity apps lean towards short, crisp names that feel fast. Kids' apps need names that parents trust and children can say. Look at the top apps in your category on our top charts page to see which patterns dominate, then decide whether to fit in or stand out.
Localised names for international markets
App Store Connect lets you set a different name and subtitle for each language you support. That is a powerful opportunity. Your brand can stay the same while the keyword part of the name and subtitle is translated into the words people actually search for in each market. A name like "Habitly: Habit Tracker" might become "Habitly: Gewohnheiten" in Germany. Always check translations with native speakers, and confirm the brand itself has no unfortunate meaning in the languages you target.
When to rename an existing app
Sometimes the right move is a new name. Consider renaming if your current name is confused with a competitor, cannot be protected, no longer matches what the app does or holds back search performance. Plan the change carefully: update the icon and screenshots at the same time, explain the change in the release notes and promotional text, and keep the old name in the keyword field for a while so existing users can still find you.
Checklist before you commit
Before you make the final decision, run through this short list. The name is under 30 characters and the visible part fits under the icon. It is easy to say, spell and remember. It does not include a competitor's brand. No conflicting trademark appears in your category in your main markets. A usable domain and social handles are available. The name works with your icon and first screenshot. And the people you showed it to could guess roughly what the app does from the name and subtitle together.
The psychology of a memorable name
Memorable names share a few properties that psychologists and brand strategists have studied for decades. They are easy to pronounce, which makes them feel more familiar and trustworthy. They have a distinctive sound pattern, such as repeated consonants or a strong rhythm, which helps recall. They evoke an image or emotion, which gives the brain something to attach the word to. And they are short enough to hold in working memory after hearing them once. When you test your shortlist, notice which names people repeat back correctly without prompting; those are usually the ones with these properties.
Names and App Store search
Your name is the most heavily weighted text field for App Store search, so the keyword you include there matters. Choose the term that best describes your core job and that your target users actually search for. Avoid stuffing several keywords into the name; it looks spammy and may be rejected under Apple's metadata guidelines. Put your second most important keyword in the subtitle and the rest in the hidden keyword field. If your brand name already contains a keyword, for example "BudgetNest" for a budgeting app, you gain search relevance without a long suffix. Use the ASO keyword tool to check how your name, subtitle and keywords work together.
Naming a game
Game names follow slightly different rules. They often lean on the core fantasy or mechanic, such as merging, matching, racing or building, combined with a setting or character. Players search for mechanics, so including one can help discovery. Because games compete heavily on the icon and first screenshot, the name should feel at home with the art style: a cosy name for a cosy game, an energetic one for an action game. Check that no well-known franchise uses a similar name; game publishers protect their trademarks actively.
Naming a business or B2B app
For B2B and professional apps, clarity often beats cleverness. Buyers search for what the tool does and need to explain it to colleagues. A compound or brand-plus-keyword name, such as "Ledgerly: Invoices & Billing", tells people immediately what they will get. If your company already has a strong brand, use it and let the subtitle describe the app's job. Consistency with your web product's name avoids confusion for existing customers who look for the companion app; see Muaz.io for SaaS for more on companion apps.
Naming for kids and families
Apps for children need names that parents trust and children can say. Short, friendly words with a positive feeling work well. Avoid names that could be misread or that resemble adult content, and check meanings in every language you target. Apple applies extra scrutiny to apps in the Kids category, so make sure the name, icon and screenshots all signal a safe, age-appropriate experience.
From shortlist to decision
When you have narrowed your list to two or three names, put each one through a final, practical test: mock up the App Store page with the name, subtitle, icon and first screenshot, and show the mock-ups to ten people in your target audience. Ask which app they would download and why. The answers often reveal that one name fits the product's personality better than the others. Make the decision, secure the name in App Store Connect and move on; momentum matters more than perfection. Then build the app itself with Muaz.io, which can carry your name through the design, icon and store page automatically.
Words that tend to work, and words to avoid
Some word endings and building blocks appear again and again in successful app names because they sound friendly and modern: -ly, -ify, -io, -o, -a, as well as short real words such as Nest, Hub, Flow, Loop, Mate, Pal, Kit and Go. Use them as raw material, not as a formula; if every competitor in your category ends in -ly, choose something else. Words to avoid include generic terms such as "App", "Pro" or "Free" on their own, superlatives such as "Best" or "No. 1", which Apple may treat as misleading, and terms that imply an official relationship with Apple or another brand.
A naming exercise for teams
If you are naming with a co-founder or team, try a short structured exercise. Each person writes ten names independently in ten minutes, without discussion. Combine the lists, remove duplicates and let everyone vote for their three favourites. Discuss only the top five, using the tests in this guide, and keep a "parking lot" for names that are not right for the app but might suit a feature or a future product. Independent brainstorming avoids groupthink, and voting makes the discussion faster.
When the name you want is taken
It happens to almost everyone. If your favourite name is taken on the App Store, consider a small, meaningful variation: add a short word that describes the job ("Habitly Daily"), use a different but related root word, or change the ending. Do not simply add a number or misspell the name, which makes it hard to find and can confuse users with the existing app. If the existing app is inactive, a trademark attorney can advise whether you have options, but plan as if you do not.
Sound-alike and spelling checks
Before you commit, say your name next to the names of the top apps in your category. If it sounds similar to a well-known app, users may search for the wrong one and you may face legal risk. Also check common misspellings: type the name the way someone might hear it and see what appears in search. If the obvious spelling leads to another app, consider adjusting your name or adding the common misspelling to your keyword field.
Glossary of naming terms
Brandable name. An invented or distinctive word that can be owned and built into a brand.
Descriptive name. A name that states what the app does; clear but hard to protect.
Subtitle. The 30-character line under your app name on the App Store, indexed for search.
Trademark class. The category of goods or services a trademark covers; apps usually fall under software classes.
Try a few descriptions in the generator above, shortlist your favourites and run the tests before you decide.
Names that age well
Trends in naming come and go. Dropped vowels, numbers in place of letters and fashionable endings can date a brand quickly. Names built from real words with lasting meaning, or invented words with a clean, simple sound, tend to age better. Ask yourself whether the name would still feel right if your app became a large company in ten years. If the answer is yes, you are probably on the right track. Then secure it before someone else does.
One last tip
Say the name out loud in a sentence a happy customer might use: "I booked it on Glowly", "I tracked it in Habitly". If it sounds natural, it will travel by word of mouth, which is still the most powerful marketing channel any app has.
Happy naming, and good luck with your launch.
Come back any time to generate more ideas.
Every great app started with a name someone loved.
Still have questions about app name generator? Ask the assistant inside the Muaz.io builder. It knows your project, your competitors and every source cited in this guide, and it answers in plain language.
Questions about app name generator
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How long can an iOS app name be?
App Store Connect allows up to 30 characters for the app name and 30 characters for the subtitle. Shorter names are easier to remember and display better under the icon on the home screen, where only around 12 characters are usually visible.
Should my app name include a keyword?
Often, yes. Apple indexes the name, subtitle and keyword field for search. A common pattern is a short brand name followed by a keyword, such as "Habitly: Habit Tracker", or a brand name with the keyword in the subtitle.
How do I check if an app name is taken?
Search the App Store for the exact name, check that the name is available in App Store Connect when you create the app, and search trademark databases such as the USPTO and WIPO. Check domain names and social handles too.
Can I use a competitor's name in my app name?
No. Apple's guidelines prohibit using other developers' names or trademarks in your metadata, and doing so can lead to rejection or legal disputes.
Can I change my app name later?
Yes, the name can be changed with a new app version, but changing it often confuses users and can affect search rankings. It is worth choosing carefully at launch.
Are the generated names free to use?
The names are generated on your device and are yours to use, but the tool cannot check trademarks. Always run the checks in this guide before committing to a name.
Related guides and tools
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Read the guideWhere our numbers come from
Third-party figures are estimates published by the sources below. Prices and rules change; check the source before you decide.
- Apple App Store Connect: app information and name limitsdeveloper.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information
- Apple App Store Review Guidelines: metadatadeveloper.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#metadata
- Apple: Product page best practicesdeveloper.apple.com/app-store/product-page
- USPTO trademark searchwww.uspto.gov/trademarks/search
- WIPO Global Brand Databasebranddb.wipo.int
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