Looking for podcast name ideas seems like the fun part of the project, until you have spent three weeks going round in circles. That is normal: the name is the first thing people see and what they have to remember to find you again. Here are the criteria we use at the studio when we help someone choose one.

What good podcast name ideas have in common

• Short. Two or three words at most. If it does not fit on the cover without shrinking the letters, it is too long.
• Easy to say and to spell. Imagine someone recommending it out loud over dinner. Would the other person know how to type it into a search bar?
• It says something. It does not need to explain everything, but it should give a hint of the subject or the tone.
• It is yours. If there is already another show with a similar name, you will find it very hard to stand out.

Three routes to podcast name ideas

A descriptive name

It says directly what the show is about. For example, something like “Startups in Barcelona” or “Market Cooking”. It has one big advantage: it helps people find you in search engines. However, it is usually less memorable and easier to confuse with others.

A name with personality

It plays with a word, an expression or an image. It is harder to find, but when it works it sticks in people’s heads. In this case, it is a good idea to add a subtitle that explains the subject, for example in the description or on the cover.

Your own name

It works very well if the podcast is part of your personal brand and you are the main reason people listen. It is also the most flexible option, because it lets you change subject without changing the name.

How to check the name is free

Before you fall in love with a name, do three quick checks. First, search for it on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Next, see whether it is available as a username on the social networks you will use and as a domain, if you plan to have a website. And if the podcast is going to be a serious or commercial project, also check whether a trademark with that name is registered, for example in the TMview trademark database.

Mistakes when choosing among podcast name ideas

• Using puns that only you understand.
• Including the year or a passing trend, which will age quickly.
• Choosing a word in another language that is hard for your audience to pronounce.
• Putting “podcast” in the name. People already know it is one, so it only takes up space.

A trick that works

Write down twenty options without thinking too hard. Then cross out the ones that do not meet the criteria above and keep three. Finally, say them out loud to five people who know nothing about the project and ask them what they think each one is about. The one that is understood best is usually the right one.

Once the name is settled, you can move on to the next step: defining the format, preparing the cover and publishing. We explain it in how to make a podcast step by step and in how to upload a podcast to Spotify. And if you are still deciding what kind of show you want to make, it will help to read what a podcast is and which types there are.

Written by Adina Harnagea, journalist and co-founder of the studio.