Hello all,
I'm trying to come up with a unique domain name.
Here's what I've done so far:
First what I did was type in all the .com's that I would really like, but as usual -- all were taken. Then I moved on to .net and the ones I really wanted were taken, but variations were available.
After that I just started to write down words, phrases, then I went and just basically flipped thru the dictionary and started trying all sorts of combinations. I also went to some 'domain naming' sites and played around a bit with their generators.
See, the key thing here is : the domain has to be already available! I can't afford to buy a domain or bid in auctions and such.
So, after doing all that, I just basically went to those expired domain sites and looked at lists and lists of domains and see if anything caught my eye. The thing is, everyone else in the world probably is doing the same thing, so when I did find one that looked good, it was already snatched up. heh
Okay, now that dictionary words weren't working, all I'm doing is everytime I see a combination of letters or see a word/words that sound good together I write 'em down.
I still haven't found one name I'm completely happy with. Though I did make up some cool non-dictionary names, funny thing was they were taken, esp. in .com but usually not .net. The .com's ones I found had just people 'holding' the domain and not using it for anything. Though I have a .net one that I'll probably register, but doesn't have that 'global appeal' or it's the-perfect-domain type thing to me. picky picky me :D
Anyway, as a last resort I could actually pay a company to find a name for me, but that costs major $$. I would actually do that if I was set on starting a business, but right now the site I'm doing is just for fun. I'm basically offering some useful free services and tools for web users, but maybe in the future I can make it into my 'multimillion dollar site' lol. All I really want is an easy to remember, catchy name, that'll make me stand out from the other sites.
The next thing I'm doing is getting books that have to do with "naming your business" type thing, they have a lot of stuff about branding. Even though, I don't think I'll start a business up, the books have really good tips! One book I'm reading now has general things like:

*Does it evoke a positive mental image?
*Is it available? A name may be available in your state, or even in the U.S., but is it available globally?
*Will it translate well? Does the name have any negative connotations in other languages?

How did/do you guys go about finding/creating a domain name? Or was it just luck? hehe :cool:

Maybe, I'm just beng too picky about this domain thing. :stickout

Be picky because I have plenty of duds, and usually you don't notice they are duds until after you've pressed SUBMIT with those credit card numbers in those littel fields. DOH!

Two word combinations are pretty easy to come up with and easy to remember:

yellowtree and also one thing I did was to take common words and just change one letter like, zebra.com (taken) > zedra.com etc.

I have a bunch of odd ones. More for fun that anything else, except when they're all for fun well...

Originally posted by Jeiara
. . . . . . . . How did/do you guys go about finding/creating a domain name? Or was it just luck? . . . . . I did some of the same things you're doing/done.
Mostly a lot of brainstorming to come up with the basic hosting name.
I have a lot of others. Some are combinations. And some are just random letters I was writing down until they resembled words. :D
I really like some of the random letter domains. If I could find some time, I'd be working on them.
It took about three weeks before I came up with the GMH name. Strange. It's so simple; you woulda thought it'd been gone. So it made it easy to overlook at first. ;)

I found my domain through directNIC's recommended variations list.

I did a lot of brainstorming, pulling words out of the dictionary, and asking friends. I couldn't come up with anything I liked that wasn't taken already. So I started searching for things I did like and looking at the recommended variations. Proabably kind of silly, but it worked for me. :)

Anyway, as a last resort I could actually pay a company to find a name for me, but that costs major $$.

Can someone give me links to company's like this?

Hehe, you on a last resort? :D

Here's one called The Naming Company (http://www.thenamingcompany.com/)

And this (http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Marketing/Positioning/Companies/?tc=1) is Google's directory of sites on branding and related things.

Originally posted by mikeh80
I found my domain through directNIC's recommended variations list.


I went and checked that site out and wow they have a huge variations list. I think I will use that site first now. :) Most registrars I used don't give you a lot of variations.

When I first went online, I found I liked, but I needed a nickname to post with. I kinda did what you did. I found words that described me. Then I put them together. Then I realised that 'word' was to long. People say I talk to much, so I thought: AndThenSomeToo.
After awhile, I made a logo and put it on my Truck. Some guy said he liked it and asked if he could have one. I thought, wait a minute, everybody knows me by that name, and it took me quite awhile to come up with, so I can't let some one else use it.
Then I registered it.
I have resgistered about 30 others, and yep, you will get a few losers, but I like all the ones I have now. They are related to (and parked on) sites I have, so it isn't really a waste.
Go ahead and experiment, it's gonna cost you no matter what.
I have to think it is cheaper to buy a few extra and let them go if you change your mind later, than to pay some one who just sat on it waiting for you to come along and pay them for getting it first.