It may seem that it’s an easy task to come up with a channel name on YouTube. However, that’s not entirely true. Finding a simple yet catchy and memorable name might take a while.

To think up a great channel name, follow these basic naming principles: brevity, sonority, meaning, and memorability. Yet, there are examples of YouTubers moving away from these principles and scoring rather original names. 

Today we will talk about how to name a YouTube channel and what techniques to use for the name selection process.  

The quest for the perfect YouTube channel name: 6 methods
Before you come up with a name for your channel, you need to know the basic rules you should follow when choosing a name. The name should be:  

  • easy to remember
  • not too long
  • easily readable
  • non-infringing: do not use brand names 
  • simple: no need to use complicated vocabulary

Above all, the name of the channel should convey its essence. 

Method 1: name Generator
The easiest way to find a name is to generate it using a special free service. An example of a name generator can be found on get.art Enter a keyword, select a category and click “Generate”. The service will show you several names from which you can choose the one you to create a corporate identity around.  

Method 2: keyword in the title
Before you decide on the name, you should choose the channel’s topic and write a few keywords that it is associated with. For instance, in the case of a children’s channel, keywords would be as follows:  channel for children, children’s channel, etc. To view the list of keywords, you can use Google keyword planner service. 

If you still don’t know what your channel will be about, you can write down 10 possible topics on a piece of paper along with the keywords that you could speak about – for example, construction, promotion, car repairs, cartoons.

You can also try searching for your keywords on Google to see how the search engine completes them. Words combinations in bold might give you some naming inspiration.  

Method 3: include the target audience
The most important thing in the channel name is to attract the target audience. If you are shooting a series of blogs for mums and housewives, you should choose words that may interest them such as cooking, housekeeping, beauty tips and earning money online. 

Method 4: use idiomatic expressions and quotes
The use of idioms and quotes could help make the chosen name catchier.  

Method 5: Personal brand/company name
In the long run, channels named after the owner lead them to success faster and help develop a personal brand. One good example is the “Like Nastya” show channel, a blog with over 1.1 million subscribers. It has to be noted that it is much more interesting for viewers to follow a real person. People who watch a person’s channel for a long time begin to relate to the owner and trust them.

Popular brands like Coca-Cola have their own YouTube channels with the same name. But even if your brand is not recognized worldwide, you need to promote it and start with YouTube. Your customers will be the first viewers, and if you optimize the channel well, it can gain popularity and expand your reach.  

Method 6: Analyze competitors
If you are struggling to come up with a name for your channel, analyze your competitors. You can view the most popular channels on  SocialBlade. Oddly enough, there is nothing special about these channels’ names: they are mostly similar to each other. They mostly gained popularity after a long and consistent period of work being put in by their owners. 

Many channels have extensions in addition to the main name, for example, TV, channel, show, club, vlog. You can also use such additions in your name to increase the interest of the viewers.  

How to change the name of a YouTube channel
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your channel’s name – you can easily change it any time. To change the name, follow these steps: 

  1. Click on the channel icon and press “Settings.”   
  2. Click “Change in Google
  3. YouTube will ask for permission to switch to your Google account.
  4. On the following page, you can edit the name.
  5. After clicking the “OK,” it will be changed everywhere.

If you want your YouTube channel to gain popularity, you need to come up with an original name for it. Bear in mind that you will need to spend quite some time brainstorming and don’t forget that it’s okay to test out different names until it feels right and you’re ready to settle.