SaaS Product Naming Guide: Name Your Software Like a Pro

The Unique Challenge of Naming SaaS Products

SaaS names live in a different world than physical product names. Your name needs to work as a URL, a login page, an app store listing, and a word people say in meetings. "Let's jump on Slack" works. "Let's jump on CollaborativeTeamMessagingPlatform" doesn't.

Patterns in Successful SaaS Names

The Real Word Repurposed

Slack, Notion, Linear, Figma (close to "figure"). These names borrow from existing vocabulary or modify it slightly. They're easy to remember because your brain already has hooks for these words.

The Action Word

Zoom, Stripe, Canva (from "canvas"). These names imply doing something. They're dynamic and feel modern.

The Invented Word

Asana, Trello, Zapier. Completely made up but phonetically pleasant. They stand out in search results because there's zero competition for the term.

The Compound

Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp. Two words merged into one. This approach is descriptive enough to hint at function while being distinctive enough to trademark.

How to Generate SaaS Name Candidates

Start With Your Core Verb

What does your software help people do? Organize? Analyze? Connect? Build?

Take that verb and explore:

Synonyms and related words
Latin and Greek roots
Shortened or modified forms

"Analyze" → Analytica, Lytik, Alyze, Parsely

Explore Metaphors

What is your product like? If it's a project management tool, it's like a compass, a map, a cockpit. These metaphors can become names: Compass PM, Waypoint, Cockpit.

Use Name Generators as Starting Points

AI name generators can spark ideas you'd never think of. Don't use their output directly — use it as raw material for further refinement.

The SaaS Name Checklist

Before finalizing, your name must pass every item:

[ ] Spellable: Can someone type it after hearing it once?
[ ] Pronounceable: Is there only one obvious way to say it?
[ ] Short: Ideally under three syllables
[ ] Domain available: .com strongly preferred for SaaS
[ ] Not trademarked: In software and technology classes
[ ] App store available: Check iOS App Store and Google Play
[ ] Social handles available: At least Twitter/X and LinkedIn
[ ] Globally inoffensive: Checked across major languages

Use BrandScout to verify domain, social, and trademark availability in seconds.

Pricing Considerations

In SaaS, premium domains are sometimes worth the investment. A clean .com like linear.com or notion.com is a significant asset. If the exact .com is taken but available for purchase, factor that cost into your naming decision. Many successful SaaS companies have spent $5,000–$50,000 on their domain.

Naming for Different SaaS Categories

B2B Enterprise SaaS

Lean toward professional and authoritative names. Think Palantir, Datadog, Confluent. Avoid anything too playful.

B2B SMB SaaS

Balance professionalism with approachability. Freshbooks, Gusto, and Calendly nail this.

B2C SaaS

Fun and memorable win. Duolingo, Headspace, Robinhood. These names have personality.

When to Rebrand vs. When to Push Through

If your current name has traction — users, backlinks, brand recognition — think twice before rebranding. "Slack" was originally an acronym for "Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge." Not catchy, but they made it work.

Rebrand when:

You can't get the domain at any reasonable price
The name causes confusion with a competitor
You've pivoted and the name no longer fits

Your Next Steps

Define your product's core action and audience
Generate twenty to thirty candidates across different naming patterns
Filter ruthlessly using the checklist above
Check availability across all channels with BrandScout
Test with target users — does the name match their expectation of the product?

The right SaaS name becomes inseparable from the product itself. Invest the time upfront. Start checking your ideas with BrandScout.