SaaS Naming Patterns: How the Best Software Companies Name Their Products

The SaaS industry has developed distinct naming conventions that signal credibility, modernity, and utility. Understanding these patterns helps you create a name that fits the ecosystem while standing out.

Pattern 1: The Invented Word

Examples: Salesforce, Atlassian, Asana, Zendesk, Datadog

Created words that become synonymous with their category. These names are completely ownable — no trademark conflicts, strong domain availability, and total brand control.

When to use: When you want maximum brand ownership and plan to define a category.

Pattern 2: The Real Word Repurposed

Examples: Slack, Notion, Stripe, Square, Monday

Common English words given new context. These benefit from built-in familiarity and easy pronunciation but face domain challenges (you'll likely need the .com from the aftermarket).

When to use: When you want instant memorability and have budget for premium domains.

Pattern 3: The Compound Word

Examples: HubSpot, Dropbox, Mailchimp, Basecamp, Clickup

Two words combined into one. These communicate function while remaining brandable. They're a sweet spot between descriptive and creative.

When to use: When you want clarity about what you do without being generic.

Pattern 4: The Suffix Play

Examples: Shopify (-ify), Grammarly (-ly), Hootsuite (-suite), Intercom (-com)

Adding a suffix to a root word creates a modern, action-oriented name. Common SaaS suffixes:

-ify: Implies transformation (Shopify, Spotify, Justfy)
-ly: Implies manner or method (Grammarly, Bitly, Assembly)
-io: Implies tech (Calendly uses .com but many SaaS use .io)

Pattern 5: The Abstract

Examples: Figma, Miro, Loom, Airtable, Canva

Short, often two-syllable names that don't describe the product but feel modern and tech-forward. These require more marketing spend to establish meaning but are highly brandable.

When to use: When you're building a platform that may expand beyond its initial use case.

B2B vs B2C SaaS Naming

B2B Naming

Slightly more descriptive (buyers need to justify purchases)
Professional tone
Often includes the problem space: Salesforce (sales), ServiceNow (service)

B2C SaaS Naming

More playful and memorable
Emotional resonance matters more
Shorter names perform better
Brand personality is a bigger factor

What Investors Look for in SaaS Names

Ownable: Can you get the .com and trademark?
Category potential: Does the name allow you to expand?
Memorable: Will LPs remember it from a pitch deck?
Professional: Does it signal a real business, not a side project?

Check Your SaaS Name

Before you build, verify your name is available across all the platforms that matter for SaaS companies.

Use BrandScout to check your SaaS brand name across domains, GitHub, and social platforms. Launch with a name that's clear everywhere.